TRACKLISTING

CD 1
1-4 Prokofiev: Violin Sonata in F minor, op.80
5-9 5 Mélodies, op.35 bis
10-13 Violin Sonata in D major, op.94 bis

CD 2
1-3 Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No.1 in D major, op.19
4-6 Violin Concerto No.2 in G minor
7-10 Shostakovich: Piano Trio No.2, op.67

Joshua Bell violin
Olli Mustonen piano
Steven Isserlis cello
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
Charles Dutoit

RECORDING INFORMATION

Joshua Bell started his recording career with DECCA in 1986 at the age of 19 and remained a DECCA artist for ten years. During that time he made over a dozen CDs of music ranging from Mozart Concertos to chamber works by Shostakovich and Ravel. He recorded with major conductors such as Ashkenazy, Dohnányi, Dutoit and Marriner, and with them recorded some of the cornerstones of the violin concerto repertory.

Prokofiev's music for violin is presented in this set of discs and includes both of his Violin Sonatas and the two Violin Concertos. In addition the set of miniatures simply entitled Mélodies is included. Prokofiev's two Violin Concertos are among the great violin concertos of the twentieth century even if the First Concerto (first performed in Paris in October 1923) was not an immediate success - largely due to the lyrical mood which dominates the work at a time when "modernism" was much to the fore. The Second Concerto was written when Prokofiev had been in self-imposed exile in the West for almost 20 years. The work was a reult of a commission from French violinist Robert Soëtans in 1935 and even though the composer himself stated he wanted to write something different after the First Concerto the new work is still an essentially melodic outpouring.

In the music for violin and piano by Prokofiev Joshua Bell is partnered by Finnish pianist Olli Mustonen. For the final work included in this set of discs, one of Shostakovich's most frequently performed chamber works, Piano Trio No.1, Joshua Bell and Olli Mustonen are joined again by Steven Isserlis.

"... his exceptionally pure tone ... and his mastery in easily compelling phrasing put his performances of both concertos among the finest yet ... his performances are very well matched by Dutoit and the Montreal orchestra."
Gramophone January 1994

This series of six 2-CD sets makes most of Joshua Bell’s recordings available again in attractive couplings and at two-for-one price!