About the album

This is the world premiere recording of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in its original version. There are a few different notes and phrasing bowings than in what is usually played. The most obvious audible difference is that the complete second movement is played with mute, while it has become a tradition that the violinist take the mute off for the second theme and therefore for most of that movement. This was never intended by Tchaikovsky. The work is the coming back to life and light, a work of positiveness. His music was strongly connected to his personal life. Linus Roth has played the piece for twenty years and feels confident to record his unique interpretation. Shostakovich’s Second Violin Concerto is a late work by the composer who at that time was already ill and knew that his life would soon be over. The conductor of the recording, Thomas Sanderling, was a close friend of his and remembers him well in his late years. Clearly this is not a funny piece, but tha