Julia Fischer Essentials

As a 20-something, Fischer worked her way through the major violin concertos—often with the conductor Yakov Kreizberg—and proved that these great works continue to speak to every generation. Her Brahms concerto is impressively assured and big-boned in conception. A later coupling of the Bruch and Dvořák concertos with David Zinman reveals a player of seriousness who also possesses great imagination and fantasy. She can take on the virtuoso repertoire with ease—a Sarasate collection reveals playing of wonderful naturalness and freshness.