Brahms: Double Concerto for Violin & Cello in A minor, Op. 102

Furtwängler’s interpretations of Brahms have long been considered legendary. The Symphony No. 1 is said to be one of his best Brahms recordings. With this new historical recording it is now possible to enjoy the illustrious works on this disc in a newly remastered sound.

The second feature of the CD is a rare recording of the Double Concerto op. 102, made in Vienna in 1952 with a young Willi Boskovsky on the violin; also completely remastered.

Vadim Repin’s DG debut with the Wiener Philharmoniker under Riccardo Muti gave the musical world and his many fans exactly what was expected of this first-class violinist: an incomparably refined, technically brilliant and at the same time highly emotional interpretation of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.

Such a recording creates a high level of expectation for its follow-up, which Repin has met – and even surpassed – with his second DG album in which he performs another milestone of the violin repertoire.

The programme is Brahms; the composer’s beautiful Violin Concerto and the passionate Double Concerto in which Repin is partnered by cellist Truls Mørk. Completing the collaboration is the renowned Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra under its chief conductor Riccardo Chailly.

The reason Repin waited to record these crucial pieces of violin repertoire for the first time is simple: he wanted the right partners – the right label, the right orchestra and the right conductor. Now he has them.

With this perfect set-up for the Brahms concertos, music lovers will again have a recording to cherish: an album that sets new technical standards and is at the same time a profound expression of great musicality.