Nicola Benedetti - Elgar (2020) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Ayrshire’s Nicola Benedetti’s new album, exploring music by Britain’s best loved composer, Edward Elgar.

The centrepiece of the album from the Grammy-award-winning violinist is his vast Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 – considered one of the most technically demanding violin concertos and a marathon for the soloist at just under an hour in length – coupled with three short works for violin and piano: Salut d’Amour, Sospiri and Chanson de Nuit.

Elgar’s Violin Concerto is considered to be one of the most technically demanding violin concertos and is a marathon for the soloist at just under an hour in length. Premiered in 1910 by Fritz Kreizler, this concerto has a profound effect on those that give it the time it deserves. Benedetti performs the Violin Concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Jurowski.

Pianist Petr Limonov joins Benedetti for three short works for violin and piano. The heartfelt adagio Sospiri was written in the lead up to WWI and was originally intended as a companion piece to Salut d’Amour (Elgar’s first published work in 1888) but what emerged was a more intense piece. Both works were originally written for string orchestra but are performed here in the composer’s own arrangements for violin and piano alongside the charming Chanson de Nuit.

Commenting on the new Elgar album Nicola Benedetti says, ‘The depth of love and fascination I have for this man and his music has made this entire process a dream. He was so out of the ordinary, from his nontraditional training to his understanding of people to his style of expression in music - there is only one Edward Elgar, and I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to record so much of his music.’

Nicola Benedetti commented, “During these unprecedented times, the re-creation of community and collectivity is urgently needed and there is no better way than through the arts and music. As part of our ‘With Nicky’ series I am so excited to teach this beautiful piece via social media channels and hope that many, many young violinists will join me to explore it further together and then give a mass virtual performance. I can’t wait!”

TRACKLIST

SIR Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934): Violin Concerto in B Minor, Op. 61:

1 SIR Edward Elgar: Violin Concerto in B Minor, Op. 61: I. Allegro
2 SIR Edward Elgar: Violin Concerto in B Minor, Op. 61: II. Andante
3 SIR Edward Elgar: Violin Concerto in B Minor, Op. 61: III. Allegro molto

SIR Edward Elgar:

4 Sospiri, Op. 70 (Arr. Violin and Piano)
5 Salut d'amour, Op. 12
6 Chanson de nuit, Op. 15, No. 1



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