CD Review: Nielsen & Sibelius violin concertos (John Dalene/RSPO/Storgårds) BIS-2620

John Dalene’s approach to recording violin concertos has paired both the well-known (Tchaikovsky) and the lesser played (Barber). To that are now added the Sibelius and Nielsen concertos. Both are fine works and they receive performances worthy of their stature. John Storgårds and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra provide characterful accompaniment throughout.

The Nielsen is a rather unusual piece, written in two movements that are each preceded by slow introductions. Yet, for all that, Dalene makes a fine case for it: by turns he conjures a bashfully romantic tone, at others a more jovial one. Personally, I have always found Nielsen a composer rather difficult to ‘place’; just when one gets a feel for his approach, he dashes it all by throwing in something new without much care for stylistic integration. Dalene integrates where he can with the two cadenzas.

The Sibelius is of course much better known. On occasions, it can feel like something of a war horse to be ridden so that the soloist merely survives the experience. Witness the particularly persuasive reading of the slow movement, the passionate closing movement or the lengthy single cadenza, all of which set this apart from many another recording.

Both works have been paired together on disc before: Cho-Liang Lin on CBS is the primary contender. However, the superior sound and playing of the present release ensures that it wins out in head-to-head listening. This is another recording from the BIS stable that fully deserves the plaudits it has garnered from the international press.