Akiko Suwanai Crystal

Dvorák’s Violin Concerto has been undergoing a renaissance of sorts on disc, one that it entirely deserves. Its critics (starting with Joachim and Brahms) dismissed it for not adopting the usual sonata-form first movement structure, instead welding the truncated opening to the gorgeous slow movement. But really, how many violin concertos are there where you can really say that the best, most characterful and highly developed movement is the finale? And what could possibly be bad about that? Clearly Fischer and Suwanai understand where the music’s going: the performance gathers steam as it proceeds, and really cuts loose in that marvelous last movement. Suwani displays a characteristically polished technique and fine intonational ear (lending a lovely purity of utterance to the slow movement), but she’s not afraid to indulge in some “down and dirty” gypsy fiddling in the finale, or in the two Sarasate items that open the program.

Akiko Suwanai releases Bach’s Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin on Universal Music Japan, 25 years since releasing her first disc and the first recording to be made on her ​‘Charles Reade’ Guarneri del Gesu violin, generously loaned to her by Japanese-American collector and philanthropist, Dr. Ryuji Ueno. Recorded at the White Church in Baarn in the Netherlands the album will be available for worldwide digital release on 19 January.

The variety here is more in the programming than in the playing. Dvorak’s Romantic Pieces open to a brand of melodic effusion that every household would know if more violinists chose the set as regular repertory. The original was scored for two violins and viola, but the violin-and-piano version is equally effective. Akiko Suwanai plays them well, and both she and Boris Berezovsky are especially successful at sustaining the long-breathed Larghetto.

Akiko Suwanai, one of the most talented contemporary violinists, will release her first new album in two and a half years, "Brahms: Violin Sonatas." Prior to the album, "No. 2 in A major, Op. 100, 1st movement" has been distributed.

Akiko Suwanai, one of the most talented contemporary violinists, will release her first new album in two and a half years, "Brahms: Violin Sonatas." Prior to the album, "No. 2 in A major, Op. 100, 1st movement" has been distributed.

Akiko Suwanai, one of the most talented contemporary violinists, will release her first new album in two and a half years, "Brahms: Violin Sonatas." Prior to the album, "No. 2 in A major, Op. 100, 1st movement" has been distributed.

Akiko Suwanai (born in 1972) is one of the brightest violinists to have emerged in the late 20th century, winning the Tchaikovsky International Competition, the youngest person to do so, in 1990. She has gone on to an impressive concert and recording career that encompasses both traditional repertoire and world premieres. Her 2006 album J.S. Bach: Violin Concertos was an instant success. Her performance is impressive: incisive, nuanced, and idiomatic. Her tone has an appealing warmth, but she remains true to the character of the music and doesn't lapse into Romantic tone quality or interpretations.

From the dozens and dozens of recordings availible for this piece, I have to say this is probably the best one I have ever heard. Especially from someone like me, who has about nine recordings of every violin concerto ever written. I have, among others, a Pearlman, Zukerman, and Mutter recording of this peice, yet this seemingly unknown recording has a unique characteristic: Ms. Suwanai's cleaniliness of the notes and preciceness of the music.