British violinist Jack Liebeck pairs the Brahms and Schoenberg Violin Concertos, works that have a personal resonance for him. Schoenberg’s concerto was written shortly after he left Germany in 1933. The following year, Liebeck’s Jewish grandfather Walter fled the country as well – and his favourite piece of music was the Brahms Violin Concerto. Andrew Gourlay conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
BBC Music Magazine Choice
Featuring
Andrew Gourlay
Jack Liebeck
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Arnold Schoenberg
Johannes Brahms
Did you know?
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Composer's Artistic Vision
Schoenberg described his Violin Concerto as 'extremely difficult' and was delighted to add another 'unplayable' work to the repertoire, stating he wanted the little finger to become longer.
Compositional Technique
Schoenberg's Violin Concerto, Op.36, is a twelve-tone work in a neoclassical style, composed with the hope that it would be marketable.
Composition History
Brahms wrote his Violin Concerto in D, Op.77, for and in collaboration with his friend, the celebrated violinist Joseph Joachim.
Performer Biography
Andrew Gourlay, the conductor, won First Prize at the Cadaques International Conducting Competition in 2010 and was appointed Assistant Conductor to Sir Mark Elder at the Hallé.
Performer Biography
Jack Liebeck, the violinist on this album, is the Émile Sauret Professor of Violin at the Royal Academy of Music and a member of the Salieca Piano Trio.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in association with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Radio 3 at BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, from October 15-17, 2019.
Instruments
Jack Liebeck performs on the 'Ex-Wilhelmj' J.B. Guadagnini violin, dated 1785, and uses the 'Professor David Bennett' Joseph Henry Bow.
