Korngold & Nielsen: Violin Concertos

A professional violinist by trade, Carl Nielsen composed an impressive concerto for the instrument. And yet, it’s never been fully embraced by star violinists, many of whom haven’t touched it. Reflecting Nielsen's life, which straddled two centuries, the Violin Concerto’s soundworld reflects the conflicting ideas of Romanticism and modernism. The use of folk-inspired tunes, as well as the addition of virtuoso-style cadenzas, makes the work a jewel in the crown of neoclassicism. Jiyoon Lee, winner of 2016’s Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition, which always concludes with a performance of this work, pairs it with Korngold’s Hollywood-esque concerto. The Odense Symphony Orchestra, from Nielsen’s home province of Funen, proves the perfect foil for Jiyoon Lee's pyrotechnics.