Sibelius & Rautavaara: Violin Concertos Tobias Feldmann, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège & Jean-Jacques Kantorow

• Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928 - 2016): Violin Concerto:
• 1 Violin Concerto: I. Tranquillo 13:32
• 2 Violin Concerto: II. Energico 12:05
• Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957): Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47:
• 3 Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47: I. Adagio moderato 16:04
• 4 Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47: II. Adagio di molto 08:46
• 5 Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47: III. Adagio, ma non tanto 07:59
• Total Runtime 58:26

Info for Sibelius & Rautavaara: Violin Concertos

Following his Alpha recording of sonatas by Prokofiev, Ravel and Strauss, the violinist Tobias Feldmann now turns to the concerto form, performing the two major works of the Finnish repertoire for the instrument: the violin concertos of Jean Sibelius and Einojuhani Rautavaara. Premiered in Helsinki in 1904, the Sibelius Concerto proved to be exceptionally difficult technically for the soloist.

Sibelius revised his score, but subsequently composed for violin and orchestra only in shorter forms, the serenade and the humoresque. It was not until nearly seventy years later that a Finnish composer wrote another large-scale work for violin and orchestra, with the Concerto of Rautavaara, which in all respects equals the degree of virtuosity demanded by the earlier work.

“Over the years I’ve fallen deeply in love with the both of these magical works …” Tobias has told The Violin Channel.

“Written by two of Finland’s most celebrated composers some 70 years apart, for me they both depict, in an equally magical way, the overwhelming beauty of the northern landscape …” he has said. (Tobias Feldmann)

“The first time I experienced the music of Rautavaara I was 12 years old playing in a youth orchestra … I was immediately fascinated by the lyricism and innovation – and when I found out he also composed a violin concerto, I couldn’t wait to explore it.” (Tobias Feldmann)

"Putting Finnish violin concertos side by side is a nice idea, but when one is Sibelius's blazing masterpiece, the juxtaposition is bound to be invidious. Einojuhani Rautavaara's two-part work (1977) is a colourful late-tonal excursion inspired by his alma mater, Manhattan obverse of the Finnish landscape. As in the Sibelius, cadenzas are integral, but the soloist is asked to improvise. The lustrous-toned Feldmann does so convincingly." (The Sunday Times)

Tobias Feldmann, violin
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège
Jean-Jacques Kantorow, conductor

Tobias Feldmann
"His way of interpretation was characterized by classic grace and lightness [...]. He felt in all tenderness in soft dynamic waves the detailed beauty of the work. And this at a level that is often found only in matured, more experienced artists” (Thüringer Allgemeine, April 23 2016).

At only 25 years of age, Tobias Feldmann is already considered one of the foremost, promising talents currently touring the world's concert stages.

He became known in classical music circles through his performances at numerous international competitions where he demonstrated his musical finesse and garnered a long list of distinctions. These included, among others, the renowned 2015 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, the 2012 International Joseph Joachim Competition in Hanover and the 2012 German Music Competition.

Tobias Feldmann has captivated audiences in performances with numerous internationally renowned orchestras such as the Utah Symphony Orchestra, the Beethoven Orchester Bonn, the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie and the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra. This work partnered him with conductors such as Karl-Heinz Steffens, Gilbert Varga, Nicholas Milton, Hannu Lintu, Michel Tabachnik, Toshiyuki Kamioka, Nicolás Pasquet, Paul Meyer and Marin Alsop et al.

Tobias Feldmann has also left room in his repertoire for chamber music, which again is a testament to his versatility. Appearing in a variety of ensembles, he has performed at high- profile festivals such as the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Rheingau Musik Festival and the Schleswig-Holstein Musikfestival.

In April 2014, he released his debut CD featuring works by Beethoven, Ysaÿe, Bartók and Waxman under the GENUIN label, which immediately attracted widespread praise and attention from the international press and critics alike. His second recording with pianist Boris Kusnezow will be released in the beginning of 2017. In the years to come, further CD recordings in cooperation with Outhere Music and Alpha Classics are in the works.

In 2016/17 Tobias Feldmann will be performing in Frankfurt, Bremen, Las Vegas, Basle und Essen among others. He will also be touring with Lise Berthaud and Julian Steckel as a string trio.

Since February 2016, Tobias Feldmann has played a violin crafted by Nicolo Gagliano (Neapel 1769).

Booklet for Sibelius & Rautavaara: Violin Concertos