Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Symphony No. 7 (2013)

There's a lot to like as it goes by in this double-album Beethoven release by Montreal violinist Alexandre da Costa, Austrian conductor Johannes Wildner, and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. (That's a nice globalized group, but you have seen nothing yet.) Wildner has a very sensitive touch in the slow movement of the Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, and in the second theme areas of the first movement of the Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61, where he's ably assisted by da Costa's broad, gentle lines. The Taipei Symphony ... Read More

There's a lot to like as it goes by in this double-album Beethoven release by Montreal violinist Alexandre da Costa, Austrian conductor Johannes Wildner, and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. (That's a nice globalized group, but you have seen nothing yet.) Wildner has a very sensitive touch in the slow movement of the Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, and in the second theme areas of the first movement of the Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61, where he's ably assisted by da Costa's broad, gentle lines. The Taipei Symphony Orchestra certainly plays on a level with all but the very best in Europe, and the fresh internationalism of the whole concept fits well with the admirable marketing of the new Warner Classics label. But make no mistake: things get weird in the Violin Concerto. Note that in the booklet, Canadian composer Arat Ichmouratov is given fully equal billing with da Costa and the orchestra and conductor; on the outside of the packaging you have to look a bit more closely to see what you're... Read Less