In the course of publications in particular on the Swedish label Bis, we realize that, very far from the star-system, the German Frank Peter Zimmermann, 56, is potentially the greatest violinist of our time. The Berlin Philharmonic pays tribute to this exceptional artist by publishing a luxurious book-album of two CDs and a DVD bringing together the two concertos of Bartók (with Alan Gilbert), the Concerto by Beethoven (Daniel Harding) and that of Berg (Kirill Petrenko) captured in concert between 2016 and 2020. The documents live up to expectations, with a translucent and spider-like Berg and a 2e by Bartók surprisingly fluid but never hasty, with an insolent bow delicacy in the 2e movement. But the price of the object is conferred by the Violin Concerto by Beethoven, in the very pickled spirit of the recent Shaham-The Knights (lively tempo, infinite vocals), with the luxury of Berlin as a partner. Only James Ehnes and Gil Shaham, in their best days, rival this degree of thoughtfulness and instrumental tightrope walking.
Watch video