For the Love of Brahms

As follow-up to 2014 s acclaimed and chart-topping all-Bach recording, Grammy® Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell continues as Music Director and Conductor of the world-renowned ensemble, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Joshua Bell is the first American and first person to hold the title of Music Director since Sir Neville Marriner formed the orchestra in 1958. On their new collaboration, Bell conducts ASMF mostly from the concertmaster s chair in a Brahms/Schumann program. On Brahms Double Concerto and Schumann s Violin Concerto in D Minor, 2nd Movement, Bell and the Academy orchestra are joined by cellist Steven Isserlis. Rounding out the repertoire is Brahms Piano Trio in B Major, Op. 8, with Bell and Isserlis joined by pianist Jeremy Denk. The trio chose to record the lesser known first version of the Piano Trio that Brahms wrote in 1854 when he was in his 20 s. Although the later version is almost always played today, Bell finds this earlier version more moving.