These are both attractive works, quite well played. Ilya Gringolts has a fine technique, an attractive sound, and is sensitively accompanied by Ilan Volkov and the BBC Scottish Symphony. However, it has to be admitted that these aren’t two of the more interesting pieces released so far in this Romantic Violin Concerto series. The Arensky is very slender indeed, only 19 minutes long, and containing just one memorable idea that you get to hear quite a bit. The violin writing is mostly lyrical and not too demanding, the orchestration light and not especially colorful. It isn’t a bad piece by any means, but you can understand its neglect.
The Taneyev has perhaps the opposite problem. Its 40 minutes feels its length, though it gets better as it goes, starting with the third-movement “fairy tale”, then a theme and variations (well characterized by Gringolts), and an exciting Tarantella finale. The engineering is also quite good, with the soloist well-balanced against the orchestra, though Gringolts seems to be in nasal mode and his audible breathing becomes a touch distracting now and then. Still, if you’ve been collecting this series, then this release will be essentially self-recommending. If you just want the Taneyev, then Kuusisto/Ashkenazy on Ondine (equally good violinist and a better orchestra), in an all-Taneyev program, might represent a more desirable alternative.
