Description
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op.61 – Gidon Kremer / Sir Neville Marriner (Newton Classics) CD
UPC: 8718247710645
MPN: 8802064
Brand Name: Newton Classics Product Type: Audio CD – Violin Concerto
Overview
This acclaimed Newton Classics release pairs Ludwig van Beethoven’s monumental Violin Concerto in D major, Op.61 with the provocative cadenzas by Alfred Schnittke, performed by the visionary violinist Gidon Kremer. Recorded in London in December 1980 with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, this performance unites classical clarity with a touch of postmodern daring.
Schnittke’s cadenzas—written for Kremer—transform Beethoven’s masterpiece into a dialogue across centuries, bridging 19th-century structure with 20th-century expression. The result is a riveting reinterpretation that honors tradition while challenging the boundaries of interpretation.
Digitally recorded in DDD stereo, this edition retains its stunning Decca-quality sound and remains a milestone in both Beethoven performance and contemporary musical thought.
Product Features
- Format: Compact Disc (Audio CD)
- Sound: DDD Stereo (Digital Recording)
- Total Duration: 44 minutes 28 seconds
- Recording Date: December 1980
- Recording Location: London, UK
- Label: Newton Classics BV
- Original Label: Universal International Music BV
- Country of Manufacture: Netherlands
- Producer: Universal International Music
- Art Direction & Design: Jan Martin Wilschut, BNO Amsterdam Hotsprings
- Cover Image: Jan Martin Wilschut
- Genre: Classical / Concerto / Violin
Track Listing
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) Violin Concerto in D major, Op.61 (with cadenzas by Alfred Schnittke, 1934–1998)
- Allegro ma non troppo – 24′11″
- Larghetto – 9′57″
- Rondo: Allegro – 10′20″
Total Time: 44′28″
Performers
- Violin: Gidon Kremer
- Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields
- Conductor: Sir Neville Marriner
- Cadenzas: Alfred Schnittke
Interesting Facts
- Historic Collaboration: Gidon Kremer commissioned Alfred Schnittke’s cadenzas, which incorporate modern sonorities and quotations from other works, reframing Beethoven’s original dialogue.
- Fusion of Eras: The recording fuses the refined precision of Marriner’s Academy of St Martin in the Fields with Kremer’s daring individuality and intellectual edge.
- Digital Landmark: One of the earliest DDD stereo recordings of the Beethoven Concerto, noted for its clarity and transparency.
- Philosophical Depth: Schnittke’s cadenzas invite listeners to reflect on musical history—an encounter between classical purity and contemporary complexity.
Publishers
© 2011 Newton Classics BV, Netherlands. Originally © 1980 Universal International Music BV. Manufactured and printed in the Netherlands. All rights reserved. Unauthorized copying, lending, or broadcasting prohibited. Website: www.newtonclassics.com
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