In exploring worthwhile but forgotten Russian repertoire, violinist Sergey Levitin’s brilliant and expressive playing brings us Sergei Bortkiewicz’s expansive Violin Concerto in D minor, full of Romantic ardour in the Grand Manner. Bortkiewicz came from a privileged background, but the political turmoil of Russia and Europe in the twentieth century saw him twice made homeless and finally settling in Austria. The Violin Concerto is coupled with the ambitious half-hour Symphonic poem Othello, a vivid and compelling musical tapestry encapsulating the essence of Shakespeare’s tragedy, in which Desdemona’s theme – a warmly harmonised melody for strings – is strongly reminiscent of Tchaikovsky.

Violin Concerto in D minor op. 22 (1922) SL

1 i Allegro deciso
2 ii Poème: Largo
3 iii Andantino – Alla marcia

Symphonic poem after Shakespeare’s Othello op. 19 (1914)

4 Allegro assai
5 Maestoso, con grandezza
6 Andante
7 Poco allegro
8 Andante poco moto
9 Sostenuto

ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
Martin Yates conductor
SL Sergey Levitin violin
WORLD PREMIERE RECORDINGS

This SACD is compatible with all CD players

“… how beautifully he [Levitin] shapes and sings the lovely second movement [Violin Concerto, Poème]” “It’s a highly effective concert piece [Symphonic Poem]” “The Scottish players under the indefatigable Martin Yates play as if the music has been in their repretoire for years.” Jeremy Nicholas, Gramophone, May 2016