This unusual coupling works surprisingly well, God only knows why. Perhaps the Britten’s neo-classical (or Baroque) leanings and formal freedom sit well next to Beethoven’s echt-Classical language, but whatever the reason the performances of both works are extremely fine. Paavo Järvi’s expertise in Beethoven with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen is by now well-known, and in Janine Jansen he has a soloist who matches him for vibrancy and freshness. There’s no pseudo-profundity here; just excellent playing in the outer movements, an emotionally affecting Larghetto, and a technically confident cadenza.
The Britten is just as fine. Obviously the London Symphony Orchestra knows this magnificent and still shockingly neglected work as well as anyone. Its quiet ending is probably the deal-breaker for most soloists (or concert promoters), but the work’s bittersweet lyricism and formal imaginativeness (the movement sequence is moderato, vivace, cadenza, and passacaglia) qualify it as a masterpiece that Jansen clearly relishes. Only a slight thinness of tone under pressure lets us know that Jansen is not quite as fine as the very best of the competition (here or in the Beethoven), but as a practical matter nothing precludes a firm recommendation if the coupling interests you.
