Christina Åstrand, the violinist on this album, has been the leader of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra since 1993, when she won the position at age 22.
Compositional Technique
The album features various musical genres adapted for the violin, such as the romance, berceuse (lullaby), and barcarole (Venetian boat song), which were previously domains of the human voice.
Historical Context
The period around the turn of the 20th century, known as the Belle Époque, saw the violin emerge as the singing instrument par excellence, with countless composers writing melodies for it.
Recording & Production
Several pieces on this album, including August Enna's Romance and Barcarole, and Carl Nielsen's Romance, are world premiere recordings.
Instruments
Christina Åstrand performs on a Stradivarius violin from 1705.
Performer Biography
The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, featured on this recording, was founded in 1790 and is the oldest orchestra in Finland.
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