Dvorak Humoreske

Capuçon, with pianist Jérôme Ducros, also his partner for a Virgin Classics Schubert recital released in 2006, has selected favourite encore pieces such as Kreisler’s mercurial Liebesleid and Dvorák's lilting Humoreske (arranged by Heifetz), tender episodes like Debussy's Clair de lune and Tchaikovsky's Valse sentimentale, works by the Romantics – Schubert (with the Ave Maria arranged by Capuçon himself), Mendelssohn and Schumann (transcriptions of numbers from the song cycle Frauenliebe und –Leben), and by composers of the 20th century – Strauss, Prokofiev, Szymanowski, Stravinsky, Korngold and the Romanian Grigoras Dinicu (reputedly judged by Heifetz as the greatest violinist he had ever heard).

'Capriccio' sees French violinist Renaud Capuçon, now in his early 30s, paying tribute to legendary violinists of the 20th century, including Kreisler, Heifetz, Milstein and Menuhin. This appetising selection of short pieces – virtuosic and lyrical, original compositions, transcriptions and arrangements – demonstrates the captivating charm the violin can exert.

Jascha Heifetz was a Lithuanian-born American violinist. He was born in Vilnius. As a teen, he moved with his family to the United States, where his Carnegie Hall debut was rapturously received. He had a long and successful performing and recording career; after an injury to his right (bowing) arm, he focused on teaching. The New York Times called him "perhaps the greatest violinist of all time."

Violinist Maxim Vengerov is joined by Virtuosi, an ensemble of 11 violins lead by Mikhail Parhomovksy. 'This is above all a fun record - even more than most collections of violin lollipops a disc for those with a very sweet tooth… Here is a young violinist at the peak of his form enjoying himself from first to last in music undemanding on the ear if not the technique, outrageously showing off in a way that for most will be very endearing. Not that the playing is extrovert all the time… 'Meditationi' from Massenet's Thais conveys a rare depth of feeling, making it more than just a lyrical interlude.

In her new album, Maria Lettberg takes a musical journey through the countries of the European Union. She has curated a selection of piano works, one from each of the respective countries, regardless of period or style. All the major styles of classical music are represented in this collection, from the Renaissance, Baroque and Viennese classical periods to Romanticism, Late Romanticism, Impressionism, 20th-century music, minimalism and neoclassicism. Each piece from the 27 countries has its own fascinating characteristics, and together they paint a multi-layered picture of the European Union.

This eleven CD box set from Korean violinist Kyung-Wha Chung combines her complete Warner Recordings produced in the period 1978/2000. Just to be clear: these are her recordings on EMI and not those released on Decca. Kyung-Wha Chung is an outstanding artist deserving of her elevated ranking in the pantheon of violinists and this set is a confident reminder of why she is so highly placed.