The G major violin concerto by Jan Benda (1713-52) is best known in a transcription by Samuel Dushkin for violin and piano. To my knowledge there is only one commercial recording of this piece–a merely average performance by Ivan Zenaty (violin) and Milan Langer (piano) on the Edit Music label. Until now, there’s been no recording of the work with orchestral accompaniment, and this one from Naxos is affectionately realized and technically accomplished. You’d expect little less, of course, from a violinist of the stature of Josef Suk, who plays the piece with his own chamber orchestra under the direction of Christian Benda. The work has some engaging aspects, not least its charming themes and elegant classical structure. The brisk outer allegros are inventive and agile, with the central Grave movement often reminiscent of French baroque style. Suk’s account is as pure and polished as you could wish for, and the sound is clear and well-balanced.
Jan’s brother František (1709-86) provides the disc’s other two selections, beginning with a concerto in D major. Again, Suk gives a polished, supple reading, helped by attentive orchestral support and a clearly focused recording. It’s regrettable, however, that Suk’s place is taken by Ariane Pfister in the last piece–František’s D minor concerto. Although she’s a competent fiddler, you soon miss Suk’s fine-spun tone and stylistic consistency. And the shame of it all is that this D minor work, with its dark-hued Adagio and pronounced feeling of “Sturm und Drang” urgency, is much the most interesting on the disc.
