The Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto suffers no shortage of recordings. But this new one from German violinist Julia Fischer, still in her early 20s, is an ear-opener. There's a refreshing forthrightness to her playing, a welcome unwillingness to sentimentalize music quite able to speak for itself. And her virtuosity in the finale sounds utterly effortless.

“Since the foundation of PentaTone Classics in 2001, their enterprising programming; appealing contemporary presentations; consistently high quality performances and state of the art recordings have been nothing short of astonishing. I look forward enthusiastically to each of their stylish new releases and this hybrid Super Audio CD of Mendelssohn’s two Piano Trios was no exception. After a check of the accompanying marketing information it seems that this disc has already been selected as a Gramophone ‘Editor’s Choice’ and the recipient of a Diapason d’Or award.

German violinist Julia Fischer, 24 years old when this recording was released, is surely a bright new star, all charisma as her diminutive self stands between conductor and collaborator Yakov Kreizberg and violist Gordan Nikolic on the cover of this disc. She has a steely technique that she brings to Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E flat, K. 364 – not a steely work, but the musicianship here is superb. Fischer and Nikolic make an attractive pair in the work, her razor-sharp tone set against his gutsier sound production, all the contrasts held together by Kreizberg's brisk tempos and no-nonsense forward drive.

Julia Fischer is joined by Yakov Kreizberg and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, as the musicians explore three Mozart concertos for violin and orchestra. The program includes Mozart’s joyous first two concertos and his complex fifth. This highly anticipated work follows the pair’s successful recording of Mozart’s Concertos Nos. 3 and 4. Fischer delivers a radiant performance filled with lyricism and refined charm, while Kreizberg commands the well-balanced orchestra with vibrant spontaneity.

Violinist Julia Fischer and conductor Yakov Kreizberg again join forces to bring us a sensational new recording of Mozarts Violin Concertos Nos. 3 and 4. Fischer and Kreizbergs last collaboration, Russian Violin Concertos, was awarded Editors Choice by Gramophone Magazine. Julia Fischer, who recently released the critically acclaimed solo album Bach Sonatas and Partitas, now brings her extraordinary musical abilities to the music of Mozart.