Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra op. 64/Piano Trio No. 1 & 2

For this 2009 release, internationally acclaimed violinist and conductor Leonidas Kavakos celebrates the 200th birthday of Felix Mendelssohn, whose brief meteoric career helped shape Romantic music. Engaging the listener immediately, the album opens with a rousing performance of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E Minor, Op. 64. which is both conducted and performed by Kavakos. Kavakos then joins forces with pianist Enrico Pace and cellist Patrick Demenga in the composer's Piano Trios No. 1 in D Minor, Op.49 and No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 66. From the first note to the very last Kavakos' artistic genius abounds and his depth of understanding of the material is apparent.