Mendelssohn – Violin Concertos in E Minor and D Minor
Alina Ibragimova, Vladimir Jurowski, Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
Hyperion LPA 67795 (150g LP)
Well-established and highly regarded, UK-based label Hyperion has developed an enviable reputation for the consistent recording quality of its releases. Heavily invested in CD, it has recently announced a short series of five, limited edition LP releases, four of which have not previously been available on vinyl. Of the four it wasn’t hard to fasten on Alina Ibragimova’s 2011 recording of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concertos (accompanied by the excellent Jurowski/OAE pairing) as a subject for review, not least because of the inclusion of the rarely performed and even more rarely recorded D Minor concerto. Well received on release, it’s the perfect choice to assess Hyperion’s translation of its recordings to vinyl.
The E Minor concerto enjoys enduring popularity and is regularly performed and recorded as a core element in any soloist’s repertoire, but there’s an attractive, lithe agility and lineal finesse to Ibragimova’s playing. She may not have the most powerful instrumental voice but the fluidity, sensitivity and tonal variety she brings to the solo part is well-served by the vinyl format, as is the sheer energy of the bold orchestral playing. Jurowski does a good job of balancing soloist and orchestra, making an asset of Ibragimova’s fragile delicacy when it would be easy to swamp it. The quieter passages in the long first movement, especially the transition to the Cadenza, are particularly beautiful. There are dramatic contrasts delivered by the solid orchestral tuttis, while the popular third movement Allegro molto vivace is played with real pace and panache.
To describe the D Minor Concerto as “far less familiar” is a serious understatement. Mendelssohn wrote it at the age of only 13 and it has a distinctly derivative feel. Having said that, the almost Baroque/early classical style of the first two movements suit Ibragimova’s strengths as a player and she certainly turns in an impressive display, while the OAE (not surprisingly) pick up on the historical cues and context. Far from a filler, this is a beautifully gauged performance of a seldom recorded piece and is if anything, more impressive than its popular partner. The first movement is played with a real sense of affection and gusto, the second with an almost reverential regard. It’s all a sharp contrast to the fast and furious fireworks of the final Allegro, which Ibragimova takes by the scruff of its musical neck, ably supported by the space afforded by Jurowski’s restrained accompaniment. As good as the E minor is, don’t ignore the B-side!
As Mendelssohn violin concertos go, this pairing is a worthy addition to any collection. It is interesting to wonder just how much of the lively agility that informs the vivid sound is down to the 150g pressing, rather than the thicker (and thicker sounding) 180g standard. Let’s not forget that all those Decca SXLs and RCA Shaded Dogs were 150g too! Surfaces in this case are just as silent as the Vivaldi disc, devoid of spurious clicks and pops, although the record itself is not perfectly flat, with a subtle rim warp, although it proved both inaudible and unproblematic. The gatefold sleeve is beautifully presented, with extensive notes that contribute to a quality product.
And by way of comparison…
With so many sources of vinyl, mainstream, audiophile and second-hand, the lanscape is getting cluttered and confusing. Perhaps a quick assessment of relative quality is a sensible step…
