Premiered in New York in 2006, the Violin Concerto of Magnus Lindberg (b. Helsinki, 1958) is a superior work that has the potential to enter the instrument’s permanent repertoire. Lindberg’s style is dense in texture and nearly atonal but provides a strong dramatic impulse so listeners have reason to stay interested in its highly logical structure based on memorable melodic motives. The work erupts into a stunning second-movement cadenza, then releases the tension into a high-energy third movement before relaxing into a calm conclusion. The sound-world of the concerto is very individual, pitting the violin, mostly in its high register, against a small orchestra (just six winds and a small string section without extras) deployed so as to sound fuller and more varied than it really is.
Lisa Batiashvili, who hails from the Republic of Georgia and is in her 20s, premiered the work and provides fervent, effective advocacy for it. The high-lying range of the piece also includes a lot of harmonics, both of which are conditions that provide severe tests of intonation–but they never faze her. Supreme, though, is her evident passion for the music. As a bonus, she provides a high-quality performance of the Sibelius Concerto. It’s a persuasive re-statement of the standard Romantic view of the work, but listeners interested enough in Nordic violin concertos to want the Lindberg probably already have a Sibelius Concerto with more individuality. Fortunately, the Lindberg is ample reason to own this disc. Fine accompaniments and sound complete the picture. [3/27/2008]
