Ray Chen - Mozart: Violin Concertos & Sonata (2015) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist
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01. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 3 in G Major, K. 216: Allegro
02. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 3 in G Major, K. 216: Adagio
03. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 3 in G Major, K. 216: Rondeau: Allegro, Allegretto, Tempo I
04. Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K. 218: I. Allegro
05. Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K. 218: II. Andante cantabile
06. Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K. 218: III. Rondeau. Andante grazioso-Allegro ma non troppo
07. Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 15 in A Major, K. 305: Allegro di molto
08. Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 15 in A Major, K. 305: Tema: Andante grazioso, Variations I-V, Variation VI: Allegro


Taiwan-born Australian violinist Ray Chen skyrocketed to international stardom with back-to-back wins at the 2008 Yehudi Menuhin International Competition and 2009 Queen Elizabeth Competition. Barely 21 years old at the time of his Queen Elizabeth triumph, Chen seemed to defy the odds with his victories, causing many observers to recall the last time so youthful an instrumentalist swept first prizes at major competitions in consecutive years. Though he has signed a recording contract with Sony and carries a busy schedule of appearances at the most prestigious concert venues across the globe, Chen still finds time to continue studies with iconic violinist Aaron Rosand. Chen's repertory takes in a broad range of works by J.S. Bach, Tartini, Beethoven, Brahms, Paganini, Franck, Wieniawski, Bartók, Prokofiev, Barber, and many others. Many others, indeed; he has been working with Rosand to expand his already vast repertory.

Ray Chen was born in Taiwan on March 6, 1989. Raised in Australia, he showed remarkable skills on the violin as a child and at 15 began studies at the Curtis Institute. By then he was already a virtuoso and the level of his talent rapidly grew. At 19 he entered the Menuhin Competition, held in Cardiff, Wales, and captured first prize.

His victory at the even more prestigious 2009 Queen Elizabeth Competition clearly foreshadowed a major career. And as if all this weren't enough, he also won the Young Concert Artists Auditions in 2009! Chen debuted at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to great acclaim on December 8, 2009, in a challenging program of works by Tartini, Bach, Franck, and Sarasate. His New York City debut at Merkin Hall on January 12, 2010, also drew rave notices. In March 2010, Chen signed a multi-year exclusive contract with Sony Classics. Further acclaimed concerts followed, including Chen's performance of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, in September 2010.

Chen returned to the 2010 Menuhin Competition, held in Oslo, Norway, to perform at the opening concert. In January 2011 Chen's first CD, Virtuoso, was issued by Sony. It contained works by Wieniawski, Tartini, Bach, and Franck, and featured accompaniments by pianist Noreen Polera. Chen then became the youngest artist to perform in a Nobel Prize Concert in its history when he appeared on the 2012 program.

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