For a violinist who made his reputation with a "take no prisoners" performance style,
Nigel Kennedy's playing of Bruch's G minor Concerto, Mendelssohn's E minor Concerto, and Schubert's Rondo in A major are surprisingly conventional. Aside from some occasionally unusual phrasing -- breaking up legato lines into short, breathless bits, for example --
Kennedy's performances here are well within the bounds of normal, with only his lean tone and edgy intonation to distinguish his accounts from the rest of the pack.
Kennedy's flashy virtuosity and seemingly limitless speed are impressive throughout, but his interpretations have nothing new to say about the works here. Bruch's concerto is still a warm-hearted, lyrical work. Mendelssohn's concerto is still sweet and sprightly, and Schubert's Rondo is still lovely, if slightly ungainly.
Kennedy's admirers will want to look into this disc, but fans of these works who already have half a dozen recordings on their shelf, this disc may be less attractive.
Jeffrey Tate leads the
English Chamber Orchestra in perfectly adequate, if not especially inspired accompaniments, and EMI's early digital sound is clear and clean, though somewhat unreal.