Phillips Salvatore Accardo

Now we have all three of the concertos, plus the Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46, and the Serenade, Op. 75, all in one convenient 2-CD set. The reproduction is broad, spacious and defined, with the solo violin in perfect perspective.

Salvatore Accardo, born in Turin in 1941, brings an Italianate warmth and intensity to the music he plays – not just to fellow countrymen such as Vivaldi, Tartini and Paganini, but also to Austrian and German composers. By the age of thirteen he had performed Paganini’s Caprices in recital, and he was an international competition winner before he even had left his teen years. His career as a soloist quickly blossomed. Nevertheless, he did not neglect chamber music – in 1992, he founded a string quartet that bears his name – and he also has led chamber orchestras, including the renowned I Musici. He recorded extensively for Philips and for Deutsche Grammophon.

The recording collaboration with the great violinist Salvatore Accardo continues, which began 29 years ago.

There is no doubt that the age of this recording is very evident, despite its digital transfer to SACD format. But the beauty of the music and the buoyancy of the performances give it an irresistible charm that compensates for some of its drawbacks.