Incantation

Virgil Boutellis-Taft, who studied in his native France as well as in Budapest and London, offers a feast of shorter works for violin and orchestra that ranges widely—from Vitali’s Chaconne (a Heifetz favourite) to music from the movie In the Mood for Love (fast becoming a modern party piece for fiddlers). Boutellis-Taft is an elegant player with something to say about the music. He plays Bloch’s “Nigun” from Baal Shem with passion and intensity, while the ever-popular “Danse macabre” has a suitably diabolical touch and the Chausson real magic. The RPO encourage their young soloist to give his considerable best.