# Dmitri Shostakovich: Violin Concertos Nos 1 & 2

> Dmitri Shostakovich: Violin Concertos Nos 1 & 2 – Christian Tetzlaff, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John…. Ondine ODE 1239-2, CD, released September 2014.

Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1239-2

- **Composer:** Dmitri Shostakovich
- **Work(s):** Violin Concertos Nos 1 & 2
- **Performers:** Christian Tetzlaff, violin; Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra; John Storgårds, conductor
- **Label:** Ondine
- **Catalogue no.:** ODE 1239-2
- **Format:** CD
- **Release date:** 1 September 2014
- **EAN / UPC:** 0761195123928
- **Tracks:** 7, total 68:09
- **Genres:** Orchestral, Instrumental

## Track listing

**Dmitri Shostakovich**

- *Violin Concerto No 1*
1. Nocturne (11:01)
2. Scherzo (6:41)
3. Passacaglia (13:24)
4. Burlesque (5:02)
- *Violin Concerto No 2*
5. Moderato (13:50)
6. Adagio (10:09)
7. Adagio - Allegro (8:02)

## About this recording

Ondine's successful partnership with violinist Christian Tetzlaff continues with a new release. The new recording contains the two Violin Concertos by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), two powerful works by the composer originally written for David Oistrakh.

Christian Tetzlaff has been considered as one of the world's leading international violinists for many years, and still maintains a most extensive performing schedule. Musical America named him "Instrumentalist of the Year" in 2005 and his recording of the violin concertos by Mendelssohn and Schumann, released on Ondine in 2011 ([ODE 1195-2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1195-2)), received the "Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik". Tetzlaff's recording of the Mozart Violin Sonatas ([ODE 1204-2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1204-2)) was chosen Gramophone Magazine's Editor's Choice and Recording of the Month by the BBC Music Magazine. Tetzlaff's previous release on Ondine featuring the Schumann Violin Sonatas ([ODE 1205-2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1205-2)) was also chosen Disc of the Month by the Gramophone Magazine.

The two Violin Concertos by Shostakovich, written in the 1940s and 60s, belong to the composer's most powerful and most personal works, yet they are very much different from each other. Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 was written during a wave of Anti-Semitism in Soviet Union and premiered only after Stalin's death. Violin Concerto No. 2 is a grand example of Shostakovich's late period including quotes from Shostakovich's earlier works. David Oistrakh described the concertos: "I have played Shostakovich's magnificent Violin Concertos in many countries with the greatest pleasure. But they really are very different from one another: I would be hard put to find anything that they have musically in common."

## Press

John Storgårds and the Helsinki Philharmonic are exceptionally responsive partners in this vivid recording. They draw out all the evocative colours from Shostakovich's orchestration (...). The Cadenza is expertly handled, Tetzlaff negotiating the difficult transitions in tempo with complete conviction and technical brilliance. Tetzlaff's stoicism, clarity of vision and architectural mastery pay even greater dividends in the more emotionally elusive Second Concerto. The longish first movement can sometimes sound discursive and lacking in direction. Yet Tetzlaff and Storgårds keep a tight grip on proceedings, building inexorably to a frenzied climax in the middle section.

Performance: ****/*****, Recording: ******

Erik Levi, BBC Music Magazine, January 2015

Warmy recommended.

David Gutman, Gramophone Magazine, November 2014

## Buy or stream

- [Buy](https://Ondine.lnk.to/ODE12392OW)

## Related pages

- [Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/composers/shostakovich-dmitri.md)
- [Christian Tetzlaff, violin](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/tetzlaff-christian.md)
- [Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/helsinki-philharmonic-orchestra.md)

## Also recommended

- [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sonatas for Piano and Violin](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1204-2.md): Lars Vogt, piano · Christian Tetzlaff, violin (ODE 1204-2, 2012)
- [Jörg Widmann: Violin Concerto · Antiphon · Insel der Sirenen](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1215-2.md): Christian Tetzlaff · Swedish RSO · Daniel Harding (ODE 1215-2, 2013)
- [Robert Schumann: Violin Sonatas](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1205-2.md): Christian Tetzlaff, violin · Lars Vogt, piano (ODE 1205-2, 2013)
- [Mendelssohn & Schumann: Violin Concertos](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1195-2.md): Christian Tetzlaff, violin · Frankfurt RSO · Paavo Järvi, conductor (ODE 1195-2, 2011)