Piotr Pławner, who performs the First Violin Concerto on this album, won First Prize at the 10th Wieniawski International Competition in Poznań and the 44th ARD International Competition in Munich.
Composition History
Wieniawski's compositional legacy includes 24 Opus works and 25 without Opus numbers, all primarily for the violin, with the two Violin Concertos being his most significant symphonic pieces.
Performer Biography
Bartłomiej Nizioł, who performs the Second Violin Concerto, won First Prize at the Wieniawski International Competition in Poznań and the Eurovision Competition in Brussels.
Critical Reception
Contemporaries described Wieniawski's playing as having a "demonic effect" on listeners, with "force, verve and impetuosity unmatched by any other artist."
Composer Biography
Henryk Wieniawski, considered the last of the great virtuoso violinists, had a short life filled with continuous artistic tours across Europe and America.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wieniawski's music is described as vividly expressive and bewitchingly melodic, reflecting the intense artistic life of this great Romantic virtuoso.
Compositional Technique
Both of Wieniawski's Violin Concertos are characterized by their compactness of form, each under 30 minutes, and a clear structure, following models like Mendelssohn's E minor Concerto.
