Korngold & Tchaïkovski - Concertos ~ Laurent Korcia [2011]

 Korngold & Tchaïkovski - Concertos ~ Laurent Korcia

Parrainé dès son plus jeune âge par Pierre Barbizet et formé au Conservatoire national supérieur de musique de Paris par Michèle Auclair, elle-même disciple de Jacques Thibaud et George Enesco, Laurent Korcia est l’un des violonistes les plus reconnus de sa génération.
Soliste de l’année aux Victoires de la musique et Chevalier des Arts et Lettres, il se voit également décerner le Prix Georges Enesco de la SACEM ainsi que le Grand Prix de l’Académie du disque Charles Cros.
Invité à jouer en soliste sous la direction des plus grands chefs, Laurent Korcia donne régulièrement des récitals de violon seul aux programmes allant de Bach aux compositeurs d’aujourd’hui, ainsi que l’intégrale des Sonates d’Ysaÿe auxquelles il consacre son premier disque.
Depuis son enregistrement des Sonates d’Ysaÿe jusqu’à BartóKorcia (Concerto n° 2 avec le CBSO et Sakari Oramo, Sonate pour violon seul, Contrastes, Sonate n° 1), reconnus comme des enregistrements de référence, Laurent Korcia propose par ailleurs des disques qui rencontrent un large public (Danses, Doubles Jeux avec Michel Portal, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Tatjana Vassilieva, Michael Wendeberg… ainsi que le Stabat Mater de Bruno Coulais avec Guillaume Depardieu).
Laurent Korcia joue le violon Zahn de Stradivarius (1719) qui lui est prêté par le groupe LVMH Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy.

Power, passion, technique; these are but a few words that describe French violinist Laurent Korcia's performance on this CD of two violin concertos. Korngold's is the first on the bill, and Korcia's liquid, singing tone does the music full justice. The Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège plays lushly under the leadership of Jean-Jacques Kantorow, giving the work the quality of a 20th century Hollywood score. Korcia's technique contrasts athleticism with lyricism, digging into the string and giving the music a harsh, almost violent quality when necessary. Yet in the second movement, he goes at the music tenderly and demonstrates control when going up to high notes, although some of the high notes, when played at a piano dynamic, become a bit wobbly and sound unsupported. The final movement of the concerto certainly makes the listener take notice, for Korcia makes it sing. He and the orchestra bring a sense of liveliness and levity to the music. There is also a fearlessness to Korcia's style -- string crossings do not daunt him -- and the use of a Stradivarius violin certainly helps produce a gorgeous sound. This expressive music is not easy to coordinate, but the members of the orchestra are able to do so thanks to Kantorow's strong musicianship. The true highlight of the album is the Tchaikovsky "Violin Concerto," which showcases Korcia's prodigal talents. The orchestra builds in intensity and then gives way to the clean, pure violin entrance. The recording quality is very strong, and Korcia simply shines. His technique through the difficult demands of the concerto is solid, and at times he chooses to bow a bit roughly and aggressively. This does not seem to be inappropriate; rather, it seals Korcia's interpretation as his own. Here again, the orchestral sound is lush, and the players create the appropriate drama necessary in this passionate work. The cadenza, which is oddly in the middle of the first movement, makes one sit up and listen; Korcia gives it a stunning interpretation with excellent rhythmic precision. Some of the rough-around-the-edges quality can be heard in the final movement as well, but it is nothing short of heartbreakingly gorgeous. Korcia invokes pull-on-your-heartstrings emotion that alternates with showoff virtuosity. There is no question that this is an excellent CD that does what an album of violin concertos ought to do: leave the listener impressed, moved, and longing for more. ~ V. Vasan, Rovi All Music Guide

Erich Wolfgang Korngold: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 (1945)
1. Moderato Nobile
2. Romance: Andante
3. Finale: Allegro assai vivace
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 (1878)
4. Allegro Moderato
5. Canzonetta: Andante
6. Finale: Allegro vivacissimo