The Works

Welcome to The Works, compiled each week by our editors to present the best of classical’s new albums. From stunning performances of well-established masterpieces to exciting new talents and musical landscapes, you are sure to find something special on this playlist. In this week’s top track, violinist Chloe Chua balances grace with fiery virtuosity in the finale of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5, the “Turkish”, taken from her forthcoming album of the complete violin concertos by that great Viennese composer. Talking with Apple Music Classical, Chloe Chua admits that of all Mozart’s violin concertos, his Fifth is her particular favourite with its striking finale: “I think Mozart was very creative and humorous to have included such a dramatic ‘Turkish’ march sandwiched between the two graceful outer sections,” she says. The young Mozart was clearly having fun in rudely displacing the civilised lilt of a Viennese ballroom-style minuet with a wild “Turkish” march, evoking the percussive style of a janissary band by having the orchestral basses strike their strings with the wooden backs of their bows. Getting the balance right between the gracious minuet and the “Turkish” episode can be tricky—too much wildness in that central section could make the return of the minuet theme seem incongruous. The conductor and Mozart specialist Hans Graf advised Chua how to find that fine balance, as she explains: “Maestro [Graf] advised me to play the minuet at a steadier tempo, so there was more poise in my playing. And with the Turkish march, he suggested that though it might seem more wild, I had to bear in mind that Mozart’s music is still very poised and graceful—it would not work so well if I played it too wildly.” Don’t forget that we regularly update The Works, so if you find a piece of music or a performance you particularly love, be sure to add it to your library.