"Cantabile" - Violin Gems is a breathtaking compilation album featuring a stellar lineup of various artists, including renowned violinists and composers such as Alexander Scriabin, Antonio Bazzini, Antonín Dvořák, Béla Bartók, and many more. Released on May 8, 2025, under the prestigious Warner Classics label, this album is a celebration of the violin's rich and diverse repertoire, spanning from classical masterpieces to hidden gems.
With a duration of 4 hours and 33 minutes, the album offers an extensive journey through 46 tracks, showcasing the violin's expressive range and technical brilliance. The selection includes iconic works like Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major, Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major "Turkish," and Sibelius's Violin Concerto in D Minor, alongside lesser-known but equally captivating pieces such as Ponce's "Estrellita" and Poldowski's "Tango."
The album is a testament to the violin's versatility, featuring arrangements for violin and piano, as well as full orchestral accompaniments. Highlights include the virtuosic performances of Paganini's "Cantabile" and Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet," as well as the delicate and expressive interpretations of Schubert's "Rondo brillant" and Grieg's Violin Sonata No. 1.
"Cantabile" - Violin Gems is not just a collection of songs but a curated experience that invites you to explore the depth and beauty of the violin. Whether you are a seasoned classical music enthusiast or a newcomer looking to discover the wonders of the violin, this album promises to enchant and inspire. Dive into the timeless melodies and intricate compositions that have defined the violin's legacy, and let the masterful performances transport you to a world of musical elegance and sophistication.
Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words, Op. 62: No. 1, Andante espressivo, MWV U185 (Arr. Kreisler for Violin and Piano)Felix Mendelssohn, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Gluck / Arr. Kreisler: Mélodie (From Orfeo ed Euricide)Christoph Willibald Gluck, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Schubert: Fantasie in C Major, Op. 159, D. 934: I. Andante moltoFranz Schubert, Vilde Frang, Michail Lifits
Debussy: La plus que lente, CD 128, L. 121 (Arr. Roques for Violin and Piano)Claude Debussy, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Ponce: 2 Canciones mexicanas: No. 2, Estrellita (Arr. Heifetz for Violin and Piano)Manuel Ponce, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Sibelius: 2 Humoresques for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 87: No. 1 in D MinorJean Sibelius, Vilde Frang, Thomas Søndergård, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Sibelius: 2 Humoresques for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 87: No. 2 in D MajorJean Sibelius, Vilde Frang, Thomas Søndergård, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Sibelius: 4 Humoresques for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 89: No. 3 in E-Flat MajorJean Sibelius, Vilde Frang, Thomas Søndergård, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Grieg: Violin Sonata No. 1 in F Major, Op. 8: II. Allegretto quasi andantinoEdvard Grieg, Vilde Frang, Michail Lifits
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major, K. 207: I. Allegro moderato (Cadenza by Cohen)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vilde Frang, Jonathan Cohen, Arcangelo
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major, K. 207: II. Adagio (Cadenza by Cohen)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vilde Frang, Jonathan Cohen, Arcangelo
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major, K. 207: III. Presto (Cadenza by Cohen)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vilde Frang, Jonathan Cohen, Arcangelo
Schumann: Myrthen, Op. 25: No. 1, Widmung (Arr. Auer for Violin and Piano)Robert Schumann, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Ries: La capricciosaFerdinand Ries, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Schubert: Rondo brillant in B Minor, Op. 70, D. 895: I. AndanteFranz Schubert, Vilde Frang, Michail Lifits
Paganini: Cantabile in D Major, Op. 17Niccolò Paganini, Vilde Frang, Michail Lifits
Schubert: Rosamunde, Op. 26, D. 797: Ballet Music II (Arr. Kreisler for Violin and Piano)Franz Schubert, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Poldowski: TangoPoldowski, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Wieniawski: L'école moderne, Op. 10: No. 5, Alla saltarella (Arr. Kreisler for Violin and Piano)Henryk Wieniawski, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Kreisler: Rondino on a Theme by BeethovenFritz Kreisler, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances, Op. 72, B. 145: No. 2 in E Minor (Arr. Kreisler for Violin and Piano)Antonín Dvořák, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, Act 1: Masks (Arr. Heifetz for Violin and Piano)Sergei Prokofiev, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Bazzini: Calabrese, Op. 34Antonio Bazzini, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Chopin: Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 8: IV. Finale. AllegrettoFrédéric Chopin, Andreas Brantelid, Marianna Shirinyan, Vilde Frang
Lloyd Webber: The Gardens at Eastwell "A Late Summer Impression" (Arr. Soudoplatoff for Violin and Strings)William Lloyd Webber, Vilde Frang, Robin Ticciati, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Mozart: Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola in E-Flat Major, K. 364: II. AndanteWolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vilde Frang, Maxim Rysanov, Jonathan Cohen, Arcangelo
Mozart: Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola in E-Flat Major, K. 364: III. PrestoWolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vilde Frang, Maxim Rysanov, Jonathan Cohen, Arcangelo
Paganini: I palpiti, Op. 13Niccolò Paganini, Vilde Frang, Michail Lifits
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 19: I. AndantinoSergei Prokofiev, Vilde Frang, Thomas Søndergård, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Bartók: Sonata for Solo Violin, Sz. 117: II. Fuga. Risoluto non troppo vivoBéla Bartók, Vilde Frang
Scriabin / Arr. Szigeti for Violin and Piano: 12 Études, Op. 8: No. 10 in D-Flat MajorAlexander Scriabin, Vilde Frang, José Gallardo
Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47: III. Allegro ma non tantoJean Sibelius, Vilde Frang, Thomas Søndergård, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61: II. LarghettoLudwig van Beethoven, Vilde Frang, Pekka Kuusisto, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35: I. Allegro moderatoPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Vilde Frang, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Eivind Gullberg Jensen
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35: II. Canzonetta. AndantePyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Vilde Frang, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Eivind Gullberg Jensen
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35: III. Finale. Allegro vivacissimoPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Vilde Frang, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Eivind Gullberg Jensen
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219 "Turkish": III. Rondeau. Tempo di menuetto (Cadenza by Joachim)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vilde Frang, Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen
Korngold: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35: I. Moderato nobileErich Wolfgang Korngold, Vilde Frang, James Gaffigan, Hr-sinfonieorchester
Korngold: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35: II. RomanzeErich Wolfgang Korngold, Vilde Frang, James Gaffigan, Hr-sinfonieorchester
Korngold: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35: III. Allegro assai vivaceErich Wolfgang Korngold, Vilde Frang, James Gaffigan, Hr-sinfonieorchester
Nielsen: Violin Concerto, Op. 33: I. (a) Praeludium. LargoCarl Nielsen, Vilde Frang, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Eivind Gullberg Jensen
Nielsen: Violin Concerto, Op. 33: I. (b) Allegro cavallerescoCarl Nielsen, Vilde Frang, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Eivind Gullberg Jensen
Stravinsky: Violin Concerto in D Major: I. ToccataIgor Stravinsky, Vilde Frang, Pekka Kuusisto, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
Strauss, R: Violin Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 18: II. Improvisation. Andante cantabileRichard Strauss, Vilde Frang, Michail Lifits
Elgar: Violin Concerto in B Minor, Op. 61: II. AndanteEdward Elgar, Vilde Frang, Robin Ticciati, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin