James Buswell - Piston: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 - Fantasia for Violin and Orchestra (2014) [Official Digital Download]

Walter Piston wrote music of clarity, nobility, longing tenderness, wit and elegance. His craftsmanship was admired not only by his students at Harvard, but by all great composers of this century. Piston’s works for violin and orchestra are extraordinary examples of his musical gifts and mastery of instrumental technique. Internationally recognized violinist James Buswell imbues these works with authority and tonal strength.

„It is quite extraordinary that a work as inspired as Piston’s First Violin Concerto (1939) should not already be in the standard repertoire alongside the Barber, with which it has much in common, including a comparable profusion of individual, lyrical melody. The second subject of the first movement persists in the memory until, most engagingly, it is rhythmically transformed to become the secondary theme of the riotous Rondo finale. The Second Concerto is more elusive, but its opening is no less haunting. The first movement is a two-part structure, developing two ideas, one sinuously ‘expressible’, the other pungently rhythmic and angular. The extended Adagio introduces a clam and very beautiful theme which is later to form a canonic duet with the flute. The Fantasia is a late work, first performed in 1973. Ruminative and searching, its language is more dissonant. It may seem remarkable that these works should be given their CD début by a Ukranian orchestra, but they play the music with security, splendid commitment and feeling. James Boswell, who studied at Juilliard, is a superbly accomplished, dedicated and spontaneous soloist, and the recording is first class.“ (Pengiun Guide)

'The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine plays the music with splendid commitment, much subtlety of expression and fine ensemble…James Buswell is a superbly accomplished soloist with a full timbre, and the recording is first-class and very well balanced…This would be an essential purchase even at premium price, but on Naxos it's a gift! It will certainly feature in my critics' choice, and, I hope, in next year's [2000's] Gramophone Awards too.' (Ivan March, Gramophone)

Tracklist:

Concerto No.1 for Violin and Orchestra (1939)
1. I. Allegro energico 08:19
2. II. Andantino molto tranquillo 06:34
3. III. Allegro con spririto 06:44
4. Fantasia for Violin and Orchestra 14:31

Concerto No.2 for Violin and Orchestra (1960)
5. I. Moderato 08:02
6. II. Adagio 11:10
7. III. Allegro 05:26

Personnel:
James Buswell, violin
National Symphony of Ukraine
Theodore Kuchar, conductor

Recorded at the Concert Hall of Ukrainian Radio, Kiev, 27th-30th May, 1998
Produced by Alexander Hornostai
Engineered by Andrilly Mokrytsky
2xHD Mastering: René Laflamme and Anne-Marie Sylvestre
2xHD Executive Producer: André Perry

Digitally remastered