The influence of
Heifetz on the violin repertoire cannot be understated. Much like
Rostropovich, who continuously commissioned new works for the cello throughout his long career,
Heifetz had many offers by composers to write concertos for him in hopes that the esteemed artist would in turn premiere them. This Orchid Music album features two such compositions, both written by composers who were active as film composers. For some, being a film composer carries a stigma and perhaps because of this, the concertos of
Miklós Rózsa and
Erich Wolfgang Korngold were not played as widely as they may have hoped for. Fortunately for listeners, these concertos (particularly the
Korngold) are being programmed much more frequently. Here, violinist
Matthew Trusler and the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker join forces for what proves to be a pair of commanding performances.
Trusler's playing in particular is technically superb with near flawless intonation; crisp, precise articulation; and an amazing display breadth of dynamics and tone colors. While both these concertos demand the utmost in technical abilities, they also possess a great deal of emotional impact;
Trusler is just as capable of delivering here. His sound is rich and penetrating, and just as sweet and low on the G string as high on the E string. The orchestral accompaniment is also expertly performed, though the sound quality is sometimes a bit muddy compared to the lucid tone of the violin. Balance between orchestra and soloist is quite good, allowing listeners to easily hear the solo part throughout.