Search - Judith Hall, Ian Hall, Barnaby Robson :: Schnittke: Sonata for Violin & Chamber Orchestra / Concerto Grosso 6 / Weill: Concerto for Violin & Wind Orchestra / Takemitsu: Nostalghia

A dazzling display! Conductor William Boughton and soloist Daniel Hope (along with the English Symphony Orchestra) put their spin on works for violin and chamber orchestra by Alfred Schnittke, Kurt Weill, and Toru Takemitsu. Soloist Hope's intonation and control are nothing short of phenomenal; indeed, he seems bred for just this kind of music. It should be said, however, that these works are very much in the postmodern vein and will not appeal to the average violin-and-orchestra enthusiast. Everything here requires concentration, especially from the listener. But perhaps the greatest surprise presented by this release is that Boughton and the ESO seem now to rival Pierre Boulez and groups such as Ensemble Modern for both competence and enthusiasm. This is a breathtaking achievement. --Paul Cook