More for the Salon than the Concert Hall

 

While the recordings from this series were made in 2008 and 2009, they were released in 2009, 2010, 2011, and this last one waited until 2013.

I wonder if this last volume received a longer wait due to its program. Personally, I find the music in this last entry more parlour room / salon scoped than anything for the concert hall.

The two Fantasies are particularly sing-songy, and the two Jota settings are par for the course. The innate virtuosity seems more tamed as well.

On the other hand, the Tarantella and the L'esprit Follet receive some of the most quality orchestral interactions I have heard from the series thus far.

Either way, Tianwa Yang makes a strong case for this music, and her musicality is never in doubt.

A review from 2024

All of the four volumes in the Naxos series of Sarasate Violin Concertante Works were recorded across 2008-09 in Pamplona and released gradually over the years following. This fourth and last entry waited an extra year or so, and I can see why there was some hesitation.

 

The two opera fantasies are lighter fare compared to what has come before; they are more sing-songy with less violin showiness. Again, there are some Spanish dance numbers, showing Sarasate’s musical love of his homeland, mixed with songs from Scotland and some original pieces.

 

Of the whole series, the Tarantella has the most orchestra interaction I have heard so far, along with the Will-o-the-Wisp Scherzo which finishes off the disc. Otherwise, the orchestra takes a supportive back seat, and I dare say the program on this particular recording veers more towards parlor music than the impressive spectacle and derring-do we had heard before.

 

No matter, Tianwa Yang impresses with technique and musicality, and her upfront placement makes sure she has plenty of body in this exotic music.

 

 Listen on YouTube

 

Works
Fantasy on Mozart's Don Giovanni (10.31)
Fantasy on von Weber's Der Freischütz (12.00)
Tarantella (5.02)
Jota de San Fermin (5.56)
Jota de Pamplona (6.46)
Airs Ecossais (9.34)
Le Reve (11.18)
L'esprit Follet (5.01)

Performers
Tianwa Yang, violin
Navarra Symphony Orchestra
Ernest Martínez Izquierdo , conductor

Label: Naxos
Year: 2013
Total Timing: 67.08

 

 

 
Volume 4 seemed lighter to me, and less flashy too. The music doesn't seem to hold up as well under those conditions.

Still, The Scottish Airs and the Will-o-the-Wisp are both a lot of fun, and the violin work is second to none.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Sarasate recordings HERE!