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Mendelssohn - Bruch - Vaughan Williams

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Details

Composer
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Max Bruch, Ralph Vaughan Williams
Artist
Johan Dalene, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Radio Choir
Format
SACD
Discs
1
Label
BIS
Released
Nov 21, 2025
Catalog #
BIS-2610
UPC
7318599926100

About

Following his recordings of Tchaikovsky and Barber concertos (BIS-2440), honoured with a "Diapason d'or", Gramophone's "Editor's Choice" and BBC Music Magazine's "Concerto Choice", and Nielsen and Sibelius (BIS-2620), awarded Gramophone's "Editor's Choice", Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene now takes on three of the most popular concertante works for violin in the entire repertoire, composed in three different eras. Felix Mendelssohn's Concerto in E minor needs no introduction: this masterpiece from the composer's mature period is one of the best known and most beloved works in all of classical music thanks to it's freshness, originality of writing, and magnificent themes. Max Bruch's First Violin Concerto, another pillar of the violin repertoire, is appreciated for it's natural lyricism and memorable melodies. In these two works, Johan Dalene is accompanied by the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by it's concertmaster Malin Broman (Mendelssohn) and by Gemma New (Bruch). Imbued with a serene, meditative spirit and a sense of communion with nature, Ralph Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending concludes the program. However, the work is not performed here in it's well-known orchestral version, but rather with choir in an arrangement by Paul Drayton. The Swedish Radio Choir is conducted by it's director Kaspars Putnins, a musical partnership whose recordings on BIS have earned numerous awards.

Critic reviews

  • “Ravishing new accounts breathe life into a favourite pairing… Johan Dalene is already undeniably a star in the fiddle… he is careful not to outshine his playing partners… His singing approach to portamento makes something personal of his performances.”

    The Strad, The strad recommends, January 2026

  • “Johan Dalene has emerged as one of the most exciting young violinists of recent years, and this album of concerto standards is anything but ordinary… idiosyncratic approach to phrasing and pacing… his unfettered tone is beautifully fluid.”

    BBC Music Magazine, 5 stars, December 2025

Tracklist 7 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro molto appassionato - 13:28
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro molto appassionato -
    Duration
    13:28
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Johan Dalene
    Ensemble
    Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Malin Broman
  2. 2 II. Andante - 07:49
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Andante -
    Duration
    07:49
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Johan Dalene
    Ensemble
    Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Malin Broman
  3. 3 II. Allegretto non troppo - III. Allegro molto vivace 06:39
    Track
    3
    Title
    II. Allegretto non troppo - III. Allegro molto vivace
    Duration
    06:39
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Performer
    Johan Dalene
    Ensemble
    Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Malin Broman
  4. 4 I. Prelude: Allegro moderato 08:39
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Prelude: Allegro moderato
    Duration
    08:39
    Composer
    Max Bruch
    Performer
    Johan Dalene
    Ensemble
    Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Gemma New
  5. 5 II. Adagio 08:51
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Adagio
    Duration
    08:51
    Composer
    Max Bruch
    Performer
    Johan Dalene
    Ensemble
    Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Gemma New
  6. 6 III. Finale: Allegro energico 07:26
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Finale: Allegro energico
    Duration
    07:26
    Composer
    Max Bruch
    Performer
    Johan Dalene
    Ensemble
    Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Gemma New
  7. 7 The Lark Ascending (arr. P. Drayton for violin and choir) 16:04
    Track
    7
    Title
    The Lark Ascending (arr. P. Drayton for violin and choir)
    Duration
    16:04
    Composer
    Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Performer
    Johan Dalene
    Ensemble
    Swedish Radio Choir
    Conductor
    Kaspars Putniņš