Recuerdos

by Augustin Hadelich

Overview

The "Recuerdos" title of this release by violinist Augustin Hadelich might suggest a program of sentimental Spanish encores, and indeed there is one here, inventively arranged from the guitar original by Francisco Tarrega, that gives the album its title. There is also a fine performance of Sarasate's finger-busting Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25, but the Spanish flavor in concert music was deeper than the exoticism of these works, and its influence has lasted a long time. Hadelich does well to explore some of its deeper ramifications. The centerpiece is Benjamin Britten's technically fearsome Violin Concerto, Op. 15, written as a lament about the Spanish Civil War. Hadelich is superb in the stately passacaglia finale, maintaining the long line despite an unusually slow tempo from conductor Cristian Macelaru and the WDR Symphony Orchestra. The Spanish tinge is less definite in Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63 (consisting largely of some castanets), but perhaps, for this reason, it makes an effective foil for the Britten. This is a fine example of the violinist's art, with technical brilliance and a fresh programming idea. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	09/29/2023
Label:	Warner Classics
UPC:	0190296310768
Rank:	25345

Tracks

1. Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25~Introduction. Allegro moderato
2. Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25~I. Moderato
3. Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25~II. Lento assai
4. Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25~III. Allegro moderato
5. Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25~IV. Moderato
6. Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63~I. Allegro moderato
7. Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63~II. Andante assai
8. Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63~III. Allegro, ben marcato
9. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 15~I. Moderato con moto - Agitato - Tempo primo
10. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 15~II. Vivace - Animando - Largamento
11. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 15~III. Passacaglia. Andante lento (Un poco meno mosso)
12. Recuerdos de la Alhambra

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Augustin Hadelich   Primary Artist,Violin
WDR Sinfonieorchester Koeln   Orchestra
Cristian Macelaru   Conductor

Technical Credits

Benjamin Britten   Composer
Francisco Tarrega   Composer
Georges Bizet   Original Material
David Ylla-Somers   Liner Note Translation
Peter Adamik   Photography
Gunther Wollersheim   Editing,Recording Producer
Thomas Brill   Photography
Christiane Frobenius   Liner Note Translation
Pablo de Sarasate   Composer
Augustin Hadelich   Liner Notes
Ruggiero Ricci   Arranger
Sergey Prokofiev   Composer
David Schwager   Engineer
Suxiao Yang   Photography
Lutz Rameisel   Recording Technician
Patrick Long   Cover Illustration
Sebastian Koenig   Executive Producer