Dvořák & Suk
Eldbjørg Hemsing’s very successful debut album of Shostakovich & Borgström violin concertos - having entered German Top 20 Classical Music Charts in May 2018 - is followed in autumn 2018 by a recording of Dvořák’s Violin Concerto and Suk’s Fantasy and Love Song with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and Alan Buribayev.
ABOUT THE ALBUM
Highly acclaimed, Eldbjørg Hemsing’s recent recording début was an unexpected juxtaposition of a concerto by her nearly-forgotten compatriot Hjalmar Borgström and Shostakovich’s celebrated Violin Concerto No. 1 (BIS- 2366). The disc that she follows this up with combines two works that make more natural bedfellows, however: the two Czech composers Antonin Dvořák and Josef Suk were particularly closely linked, in that Suk wasn’t only Dvořák’s favourite student, but also his son-in-law. Both had also studied the violin, which makes it somewhat surprising that Dvořák’s Concerto and Suk’s Fantasy are their only large-scale concertante works for the instrument.
“A special and close relationship with Antonín Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A minor goes all the way back to my childhood. I grew up with two siblings, and my younger brother Andris used to play the concerto constantly at the highest volume until my mum decided to hide the recording. However, my curiosity about Dvořák grew, eventually also leading to my discovery of Josef Suk’s compositions. Despite the difference in expression and style between the two composers, the eloquence of the Czech idiom that they share fascinated me. Dvořák’s Violin Concerto is a masterpiece, both playful and yet very serious. Josef Suk’s Fantasy is on the other hand like a mosaic adventure, where each of the stories come together forming the piece. And, finally, Love Song is somehow a true reflection of the romantic idea of love.”
- Eldbjørg
The recording was generously supported by the long-term artistic grant by Göhde Foundation.
REVIEWS
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE (January 2019)
★★★★
“Her reading of the Dvořák is agile and characterful, although perhaps lacks the soaring sweetness that the Concertos’ central movement calls for…both Hemsing and ensemble shine much more convincingly in Suk’s Fantasy in G minor…The recording’s real highpoint is, however, the all-too-brief final track of the disc, Suk’s delightful ‘Liebeslied’…Hemsing plays this endlessly tender ‘love song’ with a perfect blend of heart and restraint.”
“[The Suk is] a seductive introduction to the disc’s strengths: spotlighting the gleaming, high-calorie tone and expressive phrasing of the young Norwegian violin Eldbjørg Hemsing against swathes of deep orchestral velvet…Big, upfront readings with undeniably attractive solo playing supported by extrovert conducting and an orchestra which, while responsive, is very much a secondary part of the sonic picture.“
“A splendid combination of purity and sweeping, Heifetz-like intensity.“
“[The Suk is] a seductive introduction to the disc’s strengths: spotlighting the gleaming, high-calorie tone and expressive phrasing of the young Norwegian violin Eldbjørg Hemsing against swathes of deep orchestral velvet…Big, upfront readings with undeniably attractive solo playing supported by extrovert conducting and an orchestra which, while responsive, is very much a secondary part of the sonic picture.“
“…jointly with Wiener Symphoniker and Conductor Olari Elts, Eldbjørg Hemsing presents an interpretation which is convincing, rich of colors and personal. With consistently brilliant sound and flexible expression, Eldbjørg Hemsing makes this album absolutely worth listening to.”
"...sensible Künstlerin, die sich und ihren Ton immer wieder genauer Prüfung unterzieht."
"This new BIS recording by Eldbørg Hemsing documents the work of a major artist."
“…mit der 28 Jahre alten Eldbjørg Hemsing begeistert nun wieder eine junge Geigerin aus Norwegen. Hemsing ist nicht nur eine feinsinnige und kluge Interpretin, sie entlockt ihrer Guadagnini auch einen sehr persönlichen, unverwechselbaren Geigenton. Zart, intim und filigran wirkt er im Kern, dabei aber selbst im gehauchten Piano noch sinnlich und klangvoll.”
"Tatsächlich fühlt sich die junge Geigerin Eldbjørg Hemsing bei Dvořáks Violinkonzert hörbar zu Hause."
“Her reading of the Dvořák is agile and characterful, although perhaps lacks the soaring sweetness that the Concertos’ central movement calls for…both Hemsing and ensemble shine much more convincingly in Suk’s Fantasy in G minor…The recording’s real highpoint is, however, the all-too-brief final track of the disc, Suk’s delightful ‘Liebeslied’…Hemsing plays this endlessly tender ‘love song’ with a perfect blend of heart and restraint.”
"…flawless intonation, a lovely tone, and, in the bargain, magical phrasing. The finest musicians possess both a keen, unique musical insight, and the technical ability to communicate those insights to their audiences. Hemsing is such an artist. And throughout, Hemsing plays with a true sense of joy that is irresistible… If you are looking for a superb version of the Dvořák Violin Concerto in first-rate sound, the new Hemsing BIS issue gets my unqualified recommendation… This new BIS recording by Eldbørg Hemsing documents the work of a major artist."
"[Eldbjørg Hemsing] sustains high standards of intonational purity and beguiling tonal lustre throughout even most awkward of passages. She also shapes phrases with a chamber-scale dynamic suppleness, in contrast to the majority of recorded players, whose tendency towards special pleading often leads to over-projection....Hemsing hurling herself into the fray with an almost Heifetz-like intensity and swashbuckling bravado."
ABOUT THE ALBUM
Highly acclaimed, Eldbjørg Hemsing’s recent recording début was an unexpected juxtaposition of a concerto by her nearly-forgotten compatriot Hjalmar Borgström and Shostakovich’s celebrated Violin Concerto No. 1 (BIS- 2366). The disc that she follows this up with combines two works that make more natural bedfellows, however: the two Czech composers Antonin Dvořák and Josef Suk were particularly closely linked, in that Suk wasn’t only Dvořák’s favourite student, but also his son-in-law. Both had also studied the violin, which makes it somewhat surprising that Dvořák’s Concerto and Suk’s Fantasy are their only large-scale concertante works for the instrument.
“A special and close relationship with Antonín Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A minor goes all the way back to my childhood. I grew up with two siblings, and my younger brother Andris used to play the concerto constantly at the highest volume until my mum decided to hide the recording. However, my curiosity about Dvořák grew, eventually also leading to my discovery of Josef Suk’s compositions. Despite the difference in expression and style between the two composers, the eloquence of the Czech idiom that they share fascinated me. Dvořák’s Violin Concerto is a masterpiece, both playful and yet very serious. Josef Suk’s Fantasy is on the other hand like a mosaic adventure, where each of the stories come together forming the piece. And, finally, Love Song is somehow a true reflection of the romantic idea of love.”
- Eldbjørg
The recording was generously supported by the long-term artistic grant by Göhde Foundation.
REVIEWS
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE (January 2019)
★★★★
“Her reading of the Dvořák is agile and characterful, although perhaps lacks the soaring sweetness that the Concertos’ central movement calls for…both Hemsing and ensemble shine much more convincingly in Suk’s Fantasy in G minor…The recording’s real highpoint is, however, the all-too-brief final track of the disc, Suk’s delightful ‘Liebeslied’…Hemsing plays this endlessly tender ‘love song’ with a perfect blend of heart and restraint.”
“[The Suk is] a seductive introduction to the disc’s strengths: spotlighting the gleaming, high-calorie tone and expressive phrasing of the young Norwegian violin Eldbjørg Hemsing against swathes of deep orchestral velvet…Big, upfront readings with undeniably attractive solo playing supported by extrovert conducting and an orchestra which, while responsive, is very much a secondary part of the sonic picture.“
“A splendid combination of purity and sweeping, Heifetz-like intensity.“
“[The Suk is] a seductive introduction to the disc’s strengths: spotlighting the gleaming, high-calorie tone and expressive phrasing of the young Norwegian violin Eldbjørg Hemsing against swathes of deep orchestral velvet…Big, upfront readings with undeniably attractive solo playing supported by extrovert conducting and an orchestra which, while responsive, is very much a secondary part of the sonic picture.“
“…jointly with Wiener Symphoniker and Conductor Olari Elts, Eldbjørg Hemsing presents an interpretation which is convincing, rich of colors and personal. With consistently brilliant sound and flexible expression, Eldbjørg Hemsing makes this album absolutely worth listening to.”
"...sensible Künstlerin, die sich und ihren Ton immer wieder genauer Prüfung unterzieht."
"This new BIS recording by Eldbørg Hemsing documents the work of a major artist."
“…mit der 28 Jahre alten Eldbjørg Hemsing begeistert nun wieder eine junge Geigerin aus Norwegen. Hemsing ist nicht nur eine feinsinnige und kluge Interpretin, sie entlockt ihrer Guadagnini auch einen sehr persönlichen, unverwechselbaren Geigenton. Zart, intim und filigran wirkt er im Kern, dabei aber selbst im gehauchten Piano noch sinnlich und klangvoll.”
"Tatsächlich fühlt sich die junge Geigerin Eldbjørg Hemsing bei Dvořáks Violinkonzert hörbar zu Hause."
“Her reading of the Dvořák is agile and characterful, although perhaps lacks the soaring sweetness that the Concertos’ central movement calls for…both Hemsing and ensemble shine much more convincingly in Suk’s Fantasy in G minor…The recording’s real highpoint is, however, the all-too-brief final track of the disc, Suk’s delightful ‘Liebeslied’…Hemsing plays this endlessly tender ‘love song’ with a perfect blend of heart and restraint.”
"…flawless intonation, a lovely tone, and, in the bargain, magical phrasing. The finest musicians possess both a keen, unique musical insight, and the technical ability to communicate those insights to their audiences. Hemsing is such an artist. And throughout, Hemsing plays with a true sense of joy that is irresistible… If you are looking for a superb version of the Dvořák Violin Concerto in first-rate sound, the new Hemsing BIS issue gets my unqualified recommendation… This new BIS recording by Eldbørg Hemsing documents the work of a major artist."
"[Eldbjørg Hemsing] sustains high standards of intonational purity and beguiling tonal lustre throughout even most awkward of passages. She also shapes phrases with a chamber-scale dynamic suppleness, in contrast to the majority of recorded players, whose tendency towards special pleading often leads to over-projection....Hemsing hurling herself into the fray with an almost Heifetz-like intensity and swashbuckling bravado."
Dvořák & Suk
Dvořák & Suk
Dvořák & Suk
Eldbjørg Hemsing’s very successful debut album of Shostakovich & Borgström violin concertos - having entered German Top 20 Classical Music Charts in May 2018 - is followed in autumn 2018 by a recording of Dvořák’s Violin Concerto and Suk’s Fantasy and Love Song with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and Alan Buribayev.
ABOUT THE ALBUM
Highly acclaimed, Eldbjørg Hemsing’s recent recording début was an unexpected juxtaposition of a concerto by her nearly-forgotten compatriot Hjalmar Borgström and Shostakovich’s celebrated Violin Concerto No. 1 (BIS- 2366). The disc that she follows this up with combines two works that make more natural bedfellows, however: the two Czech composers Antonin Dvořák and Josef Suk were particularly closely linked, in that Suk wasn’t only Dvořák’s favourite student, but also his son-in-law. Both had also studied the violin, which makes it somewhat surprising that Dvořák’s Concerto and Suk’s Fantasy are their only large-scale concertante works for the instrument.
“A special and close relationship with Antonín Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A minor goes all the way back to my childhood. I grew up with two siblings, and my younger brother Andris used to play the concerto constantly at the highest volume until my mum decided to hide the recording. However, my curiosity about Dvořák grew, eventually also leading to my discovery of Josef Suk’s compositions. Despite the difference in expression and style between the two composers, the eloquence of the Czech idiom that they share fascinated me. Dvořák’s Violin Concerto is a masterpiece, both playful and yet very serious. Josef Suk’s Fantasy is on the other hand like a mosaic adventure, where each of the stories come together forming the piece. And, finally, Love Song is somehow a true reflection of the romantic idea of love.”
- Eldbjørg
The recording was generously supported by the long-term artistic grant by Göhde Foundation.
REVIEWS
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE (January 2019)
★★★★
“Her reading of the Dvořák is agile and characterful, although perhaps lacks the soaring sweetness that the Concertos’ central movement calls for…both Hemsing and ensemble shine much more convincingly in Suk’s Fantasy in G minor…The recording’s real highpoint is, however, the all-too-brief final track of the disc, Suk’s delightful ‘Liebeslied’…Hemsing plays this endlessly tender ‘love song’ with a perfect blend of heart and restraint.”
“[The Suk is] a seductive introduction to the disc’s strengths: spotlighting the gleaming, high-calorie tone and expressive phrasing of the young Norwegian violin Eldbjørg Hemsing against swathes of deep orchestral velvet…Big, upfront readings with undeniably attractive solo playing supported by extrovert conducting and an orchestra which, while responsive, is very much a secondary part of the sonic picture.“
“A splendid combination of purity and sweeping, Heifetz-like intensity.“
Eldbjørg Hemsing’s very successful debut album of Shostakovich & Borgström violin concertos - having entered German Top 20 Classical Music Charts in May 2018 - is followed in autumn 2018 by a recording of Dvořák’s Violin Concerto and Suk’s Fantasy and Love Song with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and Alan Buribayev.
Dvořák & Suk
Eldbjørg Hemsing’s very successful debut album of Shostakovich & Borgström violin concertos - having entered German Top 20 Classical Music Charts in May 2018 - is followed in autumn 2018 by a recording of Dvořák’s Violin Concerto and Suk’s Fantasy and Love Song with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and Alan Buribayev.
About the Album
ABOUT THE ALBUM
Highly acclaimed, Eldbjørg Hemsing’s recent recording début was an unexpected juxtaposition of a concerto by her nearly-forgotten compatriot Hjalmar Borgström and Shostakovich’s celebrated Violin Concerto No. 1 (BIS- 2366). The disc that she follows this up with combines two works that make more natural bedfellows, however: the two Czech composers Antonin Dvořák and Josef Suk were particularly closely linked, in that Suk wasn’t only Dvořák’s favourite student, but also his son-in-law. Both had also studied the violin, which makes it somewhat surprising that Dvořák’s Concerto and Suk’s Fantasy are their only large-scale concertante works for the instrument.
“A special and close relationship with Antonín Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A minor goes all the way back to my childhood. I grew up with two siblings, and my younger brother Andris used to play the concerto constantly at the highest volume until my mum decided to hide the recording. However, my curiosity about Dvořák grew, eventually also leading to my discovery of Josef Suk’s compositions. Despite the difference in expression and style between the two composers, the eloquence of the Czech idiom that they share fascinated me. Dvořák’s Violin Concerto is a masterpiece, both playful and yet very serious. Josef Suk’s Fantasy is on the other hand like a mosaic adventure, where each of the stories come together forming the piece. And, finally, Love Song is somehow a true reflection of the romantic idea of love.”
- Eldbjørg
The recording was generously supported by the long-term artistic grant by Göhde Foundation.
REVIEWS
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE (January 2019)
★★★★
“Her reading of the Dvořák is agile and characterful, although perhaps lacks the soaring sweetness that the Concertos’ central movement calls for…both Hemsing and ensemble shine much more convincingly in Suk’s Fantasy in G minor…The recording’s real highpoint is, however, the all-too-brief final track of the disc, Suk’s delightful ‘Liebeslied’…Hemsing plays this endlessly tender ‘love song’ with a perfect blend of heart and restraint.”
“[The Suk is] a seductive introduction to the disc’s strengths: spotlighting the gleaming, high-calorie tone and expressive phrasing of the young Norwegian violin Eldbjørg Hemsing against swathes of deep orchestral velvet…Big, upfront readings with undeniably attractive solo playing supported by extrovert conducting and an orchestra which, while responsive, is very much a secondary part of the sonic picture.“
“A splendid combination of purity and sweeping, Heifetz-like intensity.“
“[The Suk is] a seductive introduction to the disc’s strengths: spotlighting the gleaming, high-calorie tone and expressive phrasing of the young Norwegian violin Eldbjørg Hemsing against swathes of deep orchestral velvet…Big, upfront readings with undeniably attractive solo playing supported by extrovert conducting and an orchestra which, while responsive, is very much a secondary part of the sonic picture.“
“…jointly with Wiener Symphoniker and Conductor Olari Elts, Eldbjørg Hemsing presents an interpretation which is convincing, rich of colors and personal. With consistently brilliant sound and flexible expression, Eldbjørg Hemsing makes this album absolutely worth listening to.”
"...sensible Künstlerin, die sich und ihren Ton immer wieder genauer Prüfung unterzieht."
"This new BIS recording by Eldbørg Hemsing documents the work of a major artist."
“…mit der 28 Jahre alten Eldbjørg Hemsing begeistert nun wieder eine junge Geigerin aus Norwegen. Hemsing ist nicht nur eine feinsinnige und kluge Interpretin, sie entlockt ihrer Guadagnini auch einen sehr persönlichen, unverwechselbaren Geigenton. Zart, intim und filigran wirkt er im Kern, dabei aber selbst im gehauchten Piano noch sinnlich und klangvoll.”
"Tatsächlich fühlt sich die junge Geigerin Eldbjørg Hemsing bei Dvořáks Violinkonzert hörbar zu Hause."
“Her reading of the Dvořák is agile and characterful, although perhaps lacks the soaring sweetness that the Concertos’ central movement calls for…both Hemsing and ensemble shine much more convincingly in Suk’s Fantasy in G minor…The recording’s real highpoint is, however, the all-too-brief final track of the disc, Suk’s delightful ‘Liebeslied’…Hemsing plays this endlessly tender ‘love song’ with a perfect blend of heart and restraint.”
"…flawless intonation, a lovely tone, and, in the bargain, magical phrasing. The finest musicians possess both a keen, unique musical insight, and the technical ability to communicate those insights to their audiences. Hemsing is such an artist. And throughout, Hemsing plays with a true sense of joy that is irresistible… If you are looking for a superb version of the Dvořák Violin Concerto in first-rate sound, the new Hemsing BIS issue gets my unqualified recommendation… This new BIS recording by Eldbørg Hemsing documents the work of a major artist."
"[Eldbjørg Hemsing] sustains high standards of intonational purity and beguiling tonal lustre throughout even most awkward of passages. She also shapes phrases with a chamber-scale dynamic suppleness, in contrast to the majority of recorded players, whose tendency towards special pleading often leads to over-projection....Hemsing hurling herself into the fray with an almost Heifetz-like intensity and swashbuckling bravado."