Sergei Prokofiev

Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Rudolf Koelman / Musikkollegium Winterthur

Label: Challenge Classics
Format: CD
Barcode: 0608917273625

Catalog number: CC 72736
Releasedate: 10-02-17

- Prokofiev’s classical Violin Concertos coupling in a new, fresh account with remarkable artists

- From 1996 until 1999 Rudolf Koelman was First Concertmaster of the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam. Then he began a career as soloist.

- Douglas Boyd’s recording of the Bach Concerti for DG marked his recording debut as director/soloist and he has since gone on to build an extensive discography.

- The Musikkollegium Winterthur has consolidated its status as a high-ranking ensemble in recent years. From 2009 until 2016 Douglas Boyd was chief conductor: his successor from autumn 2016 is Thomas Zehetmair.

During the summer of 1917, whilst the first World War was raging, Sergei Prokofiev found inspiration for his first Violin Concerto, Op. 19, during walks through the fields. This concerto’s premiere in Paris did not take place until 1923. The Parisians found it “harmless” and “old-fashioned.” Despite putting all violinistic techniques to the test, the work indeed features a distinctly lyrical character. Even if Prokofiev resisted reproaches made against the style of this work, he nonetheless paid heed to them: in the works written immediately after this concerto, he adopted a markedly more modern pace. Unlike the first concerto, the second one was not written in the idyll of nature, but during Prokofiev’s nomadic phase in 1935 between Paris, Voronezh, Baku and Madrid, where it was premiered: “I wanted something completely different from the first one, in terms of both content and form.” Whereas many listeners are reminded of spring-like feelings in the first

Violin Concerto No.1, Op.19

I. Andantino