Tchaikovsky / Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos

"Magnificent technique, of course; the trickiest passages can seem like child's play to him. But what impresses most is Chen's musicianship - he's able to make the listener aware of the emotional import of each phrase, apparently spontaneously, as though he's only just considered playing it that way...In his hands, the music is like a living thing; one senses that each performance will have its own individual character...All in all, a most impressive release."
(Recording of the Month Gramophone June 2012)

"It's easy to see why Sony have snapped [Chen] up for star treatment. His tone is silken, his technique faultless, his musicianship persuasive as well as controlled and poetic. He can also handle the grand, febrile romanticism of these two mainstream works...We'll hear a lot more of Ray Chen."
(Observer)

"Chen's debut CDs were a real tonic, marrying effortless virtuosity with musicianship of the highest order, and I'm delighted to report that his first concerto recording maintains his high standards. Both he and Daniel Harding understand the differences between these two masterpieces...A completely captivating issue."
(BBC Music June 2012)

Following the critical success of his solo album "Virtuoso„ for which Ray Chen received the prestigious German Echo Klassik Award 2011 and outstanding reviews, Sony Classical releases the young violinist's first concerto-recording on the label.

On this release Ray combines the Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn violin concertos. Both works have played a significant role in Ray's career so far. His superb interpretation of these works led to his triumph at two major violin competitions - in 2008 he won the Yehudi Menuhin Competition performing the Mendelssohn Concerto, followed by first prize in the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels a year later, with the Tchaikovsky Concerto.

Ray brings a fresh interpretation to these cornerstones of the violin repertoire and finds a kindred spirit in Daniel Harding and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra - their youthful performance displaying zest and energy.