Sebastian Bohren - Op. 2 - Hartmann, Mendelssohn, Respighi, Schubert (2017) [Official Digital Download]

Sebastian Bohren plays concertos of Mendelssohn, Schubert, Respighi, and Hartmann Mendelssohn’s long-forgotten “little” violin concerto, presented in con- cert for the first time in 1952 by Yehudi Menuhin, was composed in 1822 – a year when the thirteen-year-old would write a total of twelve works. The young Mendelssohn is remarkable not only for his prodigious talent, but also for his extraordinary eagerness to learn. Eduard Devrient, the man of the theater who heard him play at his parents’ home, offers a vi- vid description of his humility: “We quickly noticed that the boy had very little personal vanity, and that his desire to learn, experience, try things out, and make progress for its own sake was most important to him by far.”

Two versions of the violin concerto, which followed each other in quick succession, have survived. Upon comparing them, we note the precision with which the teenager integrated new experiences into his composing. He makes small changes in the relationship between solo and orchestra and corrects many details in the violin part, notably enhancing the virtu- oso effect. Though no performance has been documented, the concerto was probably intended for the Sunday musical gatherings organized by Mendelssohn’s mother in their own house, where Felix had the privilege of testing out his first works in the hands of Berlin’s finest musicians. The lack of winds in the instrumentation, something already considered antiquated in the early 19th century, also suggests such a private setting.

TRACKLIT

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809 – 1847)

Violin Concerto in D Minor, MWV O 3
1 I. Allegro 08:59
2 II. Andante 09:31
3 III. Allegro 04:17

Karl Amadeus Hartmann (1905 – 1963)

Concerto funebre for Violin and String Orchestra
4 I. Introduktion. Largo 01:47
5 II. Adagio 08:11
6 III. Allegro di molto 08:33
7 IV. Choral. Langsamer Marsch 04:40

Ottorino Respighi (1879 – 1936)

Antiche danze ed arie, Suite No. 3
8 I. Italiana. Andantino 02:29
9 II. Arie di corte. Andante cantabile 06:50
10 III. Siciliana. Andantino 02:52
11 IV. Passacaglia. Maestoso 03:25

Franz Schubert (1797 – 1828)

12 Rondo for Violin and Strings in A Major, D. 438 15:16

PERSONNEL
Sebastian Bohren, violin
Chaarts Chamber Aartists