“The whole disc is extremely enjoyable. I can’t wait to hear more of this magnificent young violinist.”

Nigel Simeone

“Recommended- for the surround, and above all, for Arabella Steinbacher’s freshness and youthful aplomb.”

Adrian Corleonis

“This is a performance in which the soloist sounds as if she is leading the dance, and everyone is rhythmically buoyant in the heady climax of an enjoyable and vividly recorded disc.”

John Allison
 

“This is a disc that belongs in every collection.”

Richard Foster

“This is undoubtedly one of the finest SACDs to be released from a label that consistently produces outstanding recordings and I have no hesitation in giving it a top recommendation.”

Castor

Repertoire *****      Sound *****
 

“Despite the relatively short time since the dawn of her international career, which began in 2004, violinist Arabella Steinbacher is already leaving a significant mark on the concert stages and recording studios of the world as of this 2009 recording. She is rapidly proving herself to be an extremely mature, well-developed artist capable of handling the most musically sophisticated compositions in her repertoire. Such is certainly the case with the present performance of Karol Szymanowski’s intense, gripping First Concerto…… Marek Janowski leads the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin in masterful, restrained accompaniments and rich, enthusiastic tuttis. PentaTone’s sound, particularly for those listening in 5.1-channel surround sound, is warm, present, and clear.”

Mike D. Brownell

“An intriguing coupling of Slavic violin concertos finds Marek Janowski and the Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin conjuring a wealth of colours and inflections from Szymanowski’s exotic orchestration. What a marvellous violinist Arabella Steinbacher is! Her instrument soars potently and her lyrical playing seduces….. And Szymanowski’s (underrated) Violin Concerto similarly benefits from a fiery and loving approach, with plenty of high spirits in the finale (the tempo ideally poised, the slower central section beautifully integrated), conductor, orchestra and soloist working as one – such teamwork reflected in the recorded sound – and leaving in no doubt that Arabella Steinbacher is a violinist of wonderful craft and a musician who communicates without tricks.”

Colin Anderson