Vilde Frang, Eivind Gullberg Jensen, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra - Nielsen, Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos (2012)

Award-winning Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang pairs Tchaikovsky s romantic and well-loved
violin concerto and the unique coloring of Nielsen s concerto in her third release for EMI
Classics. Tchaikovsky s Violin Concerto showcases Vilde s hugely assured virtuosity, but far
from mere empty fireworks, she exercises her technical facility as a means to cut to the
emotional core of the work. The end result is a truly remarkable recording of this warhorse
work jaw-droppingly accomplished playing fused with a depth of expression that belies her
young age. The concerto is not only regarded as one of the most technically difficult pieces
in the repertoire but also is considered one of the most famous of all violin compositions.
Carl Nielsen s Violin Concerto is very close to Vilde s heart. Composed in her homeland
Norway and premiered in Scandinavia by Danish violinist Peder Møller and the Royal
Danish Orchestra, Vilde was very keen to record the concerto. The work has a quintessentially
Scandinavian feel: simple but heartfelt melodies wrapped in a spacious,
windswept orchestral accompaniment.
Often compared to a young Anne-Sophie Mutter, with whom she sometimes performs,
Vilde s first recorded album Violin Concertos by Sibelius and Prokofiev,
released in January 2010 at the age of 22, was praised by the critics; rarely
has this music sounded so tender, so intimate or so lyrical (Financial Times),
while Independent Record Review called her prodigiously gifted. The disc
won Best Classical Release at the Norwegian Grammy Awards.
Her second album of sonatas by Bartok, Grieg and Strauss with pianist
Michail Lifits was released in March 2011 to great critical reception:
Another outstanding disc from Frang, who makes even the most wellworn
phrases sound as though they have just arrived freshly minted
from the composer s creative workshop (Classic FM magazine). Vilde
received the Newcomer award both at the 2011 Edison Classic
awards in Amsterdam and the 2011 Classic BRITs in London