Coleridge-Taylor and Dvořák Violin Concertos Album Review

Violinist Gil Shaham released an album on Canary Classics featuring concertos by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Antonín Dvořák, a pairing described as shrewd by critics. The album showcases Shaham's plush tone and precise intonation, enriching the solo lines of both works. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eric Jacobsen, provides light and agile accompaniment.

Coleridge-Taylor's Violin Concerto, which premiered in Connecticut in 1912, is presented alongside Dvořák's more widely known concerto. Despite the original parts for Coleridge-Taylor's work being lost on the Titanic, the composition demonstrates harmonies and melodic structures reminiscent of African folk music, though it does not directly quote spirituals. Shaham's rendition is noted for its sumptuous quality, surpassing many other recordings.

The review highlights the effectiveness of juxtaposing Coleridge-Taylor's concerto with one of the 19th century's most popular works, asserting that it stands strong in comparison. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is commended for its performance under Jacobsen's direction, maintaining a light and responsive musical foundation for Shaham's solo efforts.