Philippe Graffin, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Martin Hurrel, BBC Symphony Orchestra - Concertos Parlando (2013)

Tracklist
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02. Concerto Parlando for Violin, Trumpet and Strings: I. Allegro moderato
03. Concerto Parlando for Violin, Trumpet and Strings: II. Lento Assai
04. Concerto Parlando for Violin, Trumpet and Strings: III. Allegro, ma non Troppo
05. 5 Melodies Op. 35 bis: I. Andante (Orchestration Shchedrin)
06. 5 Melodies Op. 35 bis: II. Lento, ma non Troppo (Orchestration: Prokofiev)
07. 5 Melodies Op. 35 bis: III. Animato, ma non Allegro (Orchestration Shchedrin)
08. 5 Melodies Op. 35 bis: IV. Andantino, un Poco Scherzando (Orchestration Shchedrin)
09. 5 Melodies Op. 35 bis:V. Andante, non Troppo (Orchestration Shchedrin)
10. Violin Concerto Op. 35: I. Allegro Moderato
11. Violin Concerto Op. 35: II. Ysaÿe Cadenza
12. Violin Concerto Op. 35: III. Canzonetta Andante
13. Violin Concerto Op. 35: IV. Allegro Vivacissimo

The charismatic and innovative violinist Philippe Graffin, described as “today’s quintessential French violinist” and by the london Times as a brilliant musical “conversationalist”, is at the creative heart of this CD of Russian repertoire, “Concertos Parlando”, or “concertos with a story”.

Tchaikovsky’s famous concerto is heard here with a different cadenza for the first time; a mesmerising cadenza by the great Eugene Ysaÿe which every violinist will surely want to hear. Prokofiev’s own orchestration of the second of his Five Melodies, a wordless song cycle, is recorded for the first time alongside Rodion Shchedrin’s orchestration of the remaining four, a project initiated by Graffin. The violinist’s artistic collaboration with the multi award-winning Russian composer Shchedrin began when he asked Rodion if he would write a concerto in a similar vein to Shostakovich’s first Piano Concerto with trumpet and strings, but for the violin. The resulting Concerto Parlando, a conversation between a free and gypsy-like violin and an authoritative, cynical trumpet, was commissioned by Philippe Graffin and the Association A Tempo and is recorded live from its world première in London with the BBC Symphony.

Perhaps the true story of this CD is how Philippe Graffin’s inquisitive mind and research successes are constantly finding new gems and broadening the repertoire for the instrument.

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