Arabella Steinbacher, Festival Lucerne Strings & Daniel Dodds - Mozart: Violin Concertos (2022) MP3

Violinist Arabella Steinbacher studied her first Mozart Violin Concerto in G major at the age of eight. The legendary pianist Arthur Schnabel mentioned that the piano sonatas of Mozart are too easy for children yet too difficult for adults. In Steinbacher’s words: In Mozart one must always make sure that it’s powerful, but at the same time never sounds aggressive and that the sound always remains beautifully pure and almost angelic. And since then the piece has become the underlying theme throughout her career. She played the piece during many important moments of her life. It was also the piece that got Arabella accepted as the youngest students of Ana Chumachenko when she was nine. Yet it never came to a CD recording while listeners regularly ask for it.

In making the recording Ms Steinbacher said,” I’m glad it can finally be recorded now. Mozart connects me to my childhood and it has opened many doors.”

After having recorded Mozart’s last three violin concertos in 2014, Arabella Steinbacher, the Festival Strings Lucerne and its leader Daniel Dodds now complete the cycle by presenting Mozart’s less well-known, but equally enchanting Violin Concertos 1 & 2, together with his Adagio in E Major and Rondos in C Major and B-flat Major. Steinbacher plays the cadenzas by Wolfgang Schneiderhan, who co-founded the Festival Strings Lucerne in 1956. Another exciting aspect of this album is that she plays for the first time on the „Ex Benno Walter“ Strad from 1718. Arabella Steinbacher, a multiple award-winner with an extensive PENTATONE discography, is accompanied by the esteemed players of the Festival Strings Lucerne and their leader and artistic director Daniel Dodds.

Tracklist
01. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major, K. 207: I. Allegro moderato
02. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major, K. 207: II. Adagio
03. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major, K. 207: III. Presto
04. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K. 211: I. Allegro moderato
05. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K. 211: II. Andante
06. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K. 211: III. Rondeau. Allegro
07. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, K. 216 "Strassburg": I. Allegro
08. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, K. 216 "Strassburg": II. Adagio
09. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, K. 216 "Strassburg": III. Rondeau. Allegro
10. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K. 218: I. Allegro
11. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K. 218: II. Andante cantabile
12. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K. 218: III. Rondeau. Andante grazioso
13. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219 "Turkish": I. Allegro aperto
14. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219 "Turkish": II. Adagio
15. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219 "Turkish": III. Rondeau. Tempo di menuetto
16. Mozart: Adagio in E Major for Violin & Orchestra, K. 261
17. Mozart: Rondo in C Major for Violin & Orchestra, K. 373
18. Mozart: Rondo in B-Flat Major for Violin & Orchestra, K. 269