“When you listen to this recording, it all comes together so beautifully and relays a timelessness I look forward to hearing again and again.”
Our wonderful Marketing & PR Manager – Allie Summers – recommends Thomas de Hartmann Rediscovered by Joshua Bell, INSO-Lviv Symphony Orchestra, Dalia Stasevska, Matt Haimovitz, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, Dennis Russell Davies (released in August 2024).
“One of the many perks of working for a classical music label is being introduced to both new works as well as compositions by composers I wasn’t previously familiar with. The most recent and exceptional example of this: the Ukrainian-born Thomas de Hartmann’s Violin Concerto (1941).
I adore this recording for several reasons, but I’ll illustrate the most obvious one first: as both a violinist and Indiana University alumna myself, I have greatly admired Joshua Bell for many years. Simply put, he’s outstanding. His virtuosic technical execution, pure musical expressiveness, deep musicality and appreciation and respect for the trade is just a delight to watch and hear. Bell believes the De Hartmann is one of the best violin concertos of the 20th century, and the way he plays it – I have to agree.
Another important layer to understanding this work: it comes at a time when Ukrainian identity is on the front lines of survival. De Hartmann secretly dedicated the concerto to his friend, Jewish-born violinist Albert Bloch, who passed away in exile during the Second World War. The work itself mourns the devastation of Ukraine by war – a full 80 years prior to the events taking place today. Coincidentally, the only way this recording was made possible was through the evacuation of the INSO-Lviv Symphony Orchestra to Warsaw in January 2024, to record the Concerto with Bell and conductor Dalia Stasevska (also Ukrainian-born). This recording wasn’t easy, but it was incredibly important to make.
The Concerto speaks for itself in justifying why it is sparkling, exciting contribution to the violinist’s repertoire. When you listen to this recording, it all comes together so beautifully and relays a timelessness I look forward to hearing again and again. As the Marketing & PR Manager at PENTATONE, I’m proud to have played a small part in bringing awareness to this wonderful and valuable work.”
Allie Summers, Marketing & PR Manager
