Violin Concerto in D Minor Op. 47

I won't dwell on the performance of Kavakos and the two versions of the Sibelius Violin Concerto as most appreciate its brilliance. The sonics have been severely criticized and I can understand why without agreeing that the recording is inherently bad. The problem is that the recording has much less dynamic compression than usual and also that Kavakos' violin is not spotlit with close mic'ing as is also quite common. So the perspective is sort of like sitting in the back half of a symphony hall. For those who criticize that the orchestra can overwhelm the solo violin in louder passages I can only say that they likely have not been to a symphonic concert with solo violin. There is no way a solo violin can compete with a massed string section let alone brass instruments. This is why composers have to have a lot of skill to create a varied but soft background for the solo violin.So the audio system necessary to play this has to have a very low sound floor and ultra low distortion. With that one can set a volume level where the solo violin can be heard clearly even though it is somewhat distant. Then the loud passages with full orchestra won't blast you out of the seat.RE: the original version of the Sibelius Violin Concerto and the later revision,.The original version had a significant imbalance between the rather innovative and mysterious opening movement and the lighter two succeeding movements. So Sibelius chose the more practical approach of lightening the original movement to be more compatible with the other two movements. If he had kept the original first movement even with some tightening he would have had to complexify the following movements which would have been hard.

Gramophone prize awarded, legendary performance. The idea of the distant micking is to make the recording atmospheric a portrayal of soaring over the Scandinavian nature. The negative commentary is shocking and looks like an effort to bury and undo the critical acclaim. This is a masterpiece. Period. If you can't hear it, it is not the work, it is you.Kavakos was so good a violinist at this time that Joseph Gingold, very familiar with Heifetz and Oistrach and all the greats could not believe Kavakos playing on his audition to Indiana University was unretouched. He could not believe a human was capable of such playing. Gingold took Kavakos's audition to an audio lab and could not believe his ears. He accepted Kavakos who won the Sibelius competition and won Kavakos world rights by the Sibelius family for exclusive performance of the original Sibelius version. The Sibelius family wanted a Finish violinist but he could not play the original version so they relented and let Kavakos record it. He had 2 monnths to prepare. During the recording he skipped a scale in the middle. The conductor asked him why. "But it is unplayable" Kavakos responded. "Then you are no better than this other guy" said the conductor. Ten minutes later they were recording it. The recording won Gramophone Record of the Year. Sibelius family gave Kavakos worldwide rights.Any rating less than 5 stars comes from deaf know-it-alls.

I understand my fellow reviewers regarding the sound issues with the original version of the Sibelius. HOWEVER- I have listened to the original version on my Fiio X5 along with my BeyerDynamics T90 cans...the sound is simply amazing. My gig manages to bring Kavakos’ violin up to the forefront. No longer is the violin coming from the basement in another area of the house. My mind has been officially blown.

Painful as it is, it's true what other reviewers say. If you turn up the volume to hear the violin, you're blasted by the orchestra. The balance is terrible, a real tragedy for a disc that's otherwise so interesting because of the quality of the performing and the recording of two versions of the Sibelius Violin Concerto. The problem is mostly in the original version of the concerto, but that's what's so special about the disc. So sad.

Flawed recording as the violin is heard as background rather than foreground. Great disappointment since violinist is an exemplary artist.

Very good

Magnifiques interprétations des deux versions de ce chef-d'oeuvre de Sibelius.Superbe album des deux versions de ce concerto de violon remarquable de Sibelius.À se procurer absolument.Pierre Gélinas QC Canada

Superb recording of both the original and revised versions of Sibelius' Violin Concerto of 1903 and 1905. Performed by Leonidas Kavakos with Osmo Vanska and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra in very good sound.The violin playing is tremendous and well supported by the orchestra.It is fascinating to hear the original version, which is fuller, in the first movement particularly. It is more dramatic and powerful and frankly I prefer it! I have always had problems with the opening allegro and this version offers a real alternative. This movement was the most revised in 1905.The two later movements are more similar in the revision and both beautifully played by Kavakos.There is real power and passion in his performance.I strongly recommend this CD to Sibelius' fans and fans of the concerto particularly.Total time is 75 minutes.

I am a Sibelius enthusiast. I already have three versions of this concerto, one of the best 3 violin concertos ever written, in my opinion. After hearing a recent live performance I was re-energised to acquire more versions and fascinated to want to hear the 1903-4 original one.However I am disappointed. The soloist seems pretty good, the tempos are fine, but the sound is mushy, too dynamic in range and the orchestra often drowns the soloist. I see the recording was in the church in Finland in 1990 / 1991 but with no special mikes for the soloist. The slow movement of the 1905 version is good but not as good as my favourite so far, Mutter / Previn. I think the sound engineer has let us down on what could have been a terrific opportunity to add to the repertoire.

The final version of this is, to my mind, the greatest violin concerto written.Even had Sibelius not revised the work, one might still have said the same of the first version. There are substantial differences in places, and the second is shorter. To achieve this, Sibelius removed some music which meanders a bit, but also some passages of beautiful and exciting stuff. Which is better? It hardly matters with both sitting in the cd player. Kavakos is superb, and plays with effortless virtuosity and great beauty. Vanska and his orchestra are his equal, and with the first rate sound quality, this is a disc that no Sibelius lover should be without.

Gramophone magazine recommendation - that’s good enough for me!