Lisa Jacobs, The String Soloists - Haydn: Violin Concertos (2017)

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Lisa Jacobs, The String Soloists - Haydn: Violin Concertos (2017)

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Almost every commencing violinist comes in contact with the violin concertos of Joseph Haydn. Who among us has not practiced the first movement of his cheerful G-major concerto? However, these wonderful gems of Haydn’s extensive oeuvre are now rarely heard on the concert stage.

After the death of Haydn, his violin concertos unfortunately became used more as study material for young violinists than concert pieces. Perhaps this is due to the lack of a certain grandeur, extraversion, and obvious virtuosity for the violin soloist, but these concertos are Haydn at his best; full of simplicity, elegance, and an abundance of charm. The transparency of these works and the lack of obvious virtuosity actually makes them a great challenge for performers.

For The String Soloists and I, the study, investigation, and frequent performing of these concertos has been a true revelation over the past season. Initially written for the Esterhazys and presumably for the solo violinist of the court ensemble at that time, Luigi Tomasini, as a listener you will feel drawn back into the 18th century.
As was common at the time, I have written my own cadenzas for these concertos in which I try to briefly express my thoughts on the musical material and add a shimmer of my own character to every movement.

We hope you enjoy these wonderful concertos by Joseph Haydn and that this recording can contribute in their public revival and return into the concert hall!