Wigmore Hall WH 0056

Bach and Beethoven: Works for Violin and Piano – Maxim Vengerov (violin), Itamar Golan (piano)

A virtuoso of legendary renown, Maxim Vengerov is acclaimed as a musician of the highest order. Following a prodigious debut at the age of five, he has enjoyed a successful career throughout the world and, over the past quarter-century, has been internationally celebrated as a violinist, teacher, and conductor.

His return to the Wigmore Hall in April 2012 will be remembered as one of the landmarks of the London concert season, as he performed cornerstones of the violin repertoire to a sold-out Hall, confirming his reputation as one of the world’s most dynamic artists. With a warm, rich tone, he created a personal and intimate atmosphere from the very beginning of Bach’s Partita No. 2 in D minor, which opened the recital. Playful and searching, his soulful outpourings and refined expression resonated deeply though every movement.

Vengerov was joined by his recital partner Itamar Golan for a fiery and adventurous performance of Beethoven’s grand ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata. With an energetic approach, this shining rendition presented the two musicians as equal partners in the magnificent work, their ensemble fresh and conversational throughout.

The blazing passion is almost tangible in the two encores, the Scherzo-Tarantella by Wieniawski and Hungarian Dance No. 1 by Brahms, Vengerov’s true virtuosity fully unleashed to awe-inspiring effect. Marking his much anticipated return to the performance platform, this recording is an absolute ‘must-have’.