Wieniawski: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 / Fantaisie brillante on themes from Gounod's 'Faust' Op.20

[Bisengaliev] his technique is formidable, with a wide tonal range. His gentle half-tones in the slow movements of both works are strikingly beautiful"
- Gramophone

"this can be recommended regardless of price....these are performances of bravura excitement, warm, flowing tone, and awesome ease of execution...This Wieniawski release is an incredible bargain"
- Fanfare

Henryk Wieniawski was born in Poland in 1835 and became one of the great prodigies making his concerto debut in St Petersburg at the age of thirteen. He subsequently lived in France before taking up the appointment as solo violinist to the Czar of Russia and teacher at the St Petersburg Conservatoire.

He was to write just two violin concertos, both of which are included in this stunning new recording with the virtuoso Kazakhstan violinist, Marat Bisengaliev, as soloist.

The disc is completed by one of the great showpieces for violin, the Fantaisie brillante on themes from Gounod's 'Faust', a work which only the very greatest virtuoso players would even begin to attempt. Here it is given a performance of the utmost brilliance and panache with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in fine form as his 'backing group'.