Violin and Orchestra Music, Vol. 4 Naxos 8.572276
This volume concludes Tianwa Yang’s internationally acclaimed series of recordings of Pablo de Sarasate’s works for violin and orchestra. This stunning programme includes the popular Introduction et Tarantelle and two delightful jotas. Sarasate’s scintillating flying staccato technique is heard in the Fantaisie on Weber’s ‘Der Freischütz’, while Le Rêve is a remarkable work in every way. “Yang is splendidly equipped as a Sarasate violinist, with her clear tone, pure intonation, impressive dexterity and light touch…startlingly beautiful.” (Gramophone on Volume 3, 8.572275)
Review:
The young Chinese violinist, Tianwa Yang, continues her remarkable display
of virtuosity in the complete ‘Music for Violin and Orchestra’ by Pablo
Sarasate. He had been one of the great virtuosos of his generation, writing
works of such difficulty as to restrict their use to the composer and a handful
of his contemporaries. His showpieces were littered with every ‘trick of the
trade’ known to violinists, the sheer brilliance required titillating
audiences. Nowhere was that more apparent than in his fantasias on melodies from
popular operas that he decorated with outrageously difficult passages. Technique
is more openly demonstrated in the Der Freischutz score based on the
opera’s overture, passages of difficult double-stopping abounding, though
this is easy compared with the feats of brilliance required for the fiendish
difficulties of the Jota de Pamplona, and the skittish Scottish Airs. In a
complete change of mood we have the delicate tracery of the violin around the
quiet sounds of Le Reve, before Yang mesmerises with the agility of her left
hand in L’Esprit follet. To this staggering display the Orquesta Sinfonica de
Navarra conducted by Ernest Martinez Izquierdo add a colourful and mindful
accompaniment. Very good sound quality and fervently recommended.
David Denton, David's Review Corner