Akiko Suwanai: Moscow 1990

As a life-long lover of the violin, and of violin playing, I have 44 recordings of Paganini's first violin concerto in D major. Pretty well every eminent violinist has recorded the work, and many of the recordings are first rate. My all-time favourite, however, is that by the Japanese violinist Akiko Suwanai, winning the 1990 Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow and taking first prize at the age of 18. The live performance is conducted by Pavel Kogan himself an eminent violinist, and son of Leonid Kogan who made a highly distinguished recording of the Paganini as did Leonid's pupil, Viktoria Mullova. The audience is pretty quiet and enraptured but, for once, I don't mind the wild applause at the end of the work. Paganini and I join in the cheers.

I usually frown at over-long cadenzas, but I don't mind the uncut Sauret first movement one here, because it's just so interesting to listen to Suwanai's playing, some full 31 years ago. Throughout the work, she plays beautifully and with devastating accuracy, even in passages where Paganini demands legato playing of a melody in double-stopped harmonics, a challenge where even the best violinists can make occasional fluffs. Suwanai excels in bravura where bravura is required; she excels in melting sentimentality where sentimentality is required. The work is given uncut, fortunately. I am annoyed when performers such as Michael Rabin cut whole passages in the work. Very rare that out of 44 different recordings I will opt for a personal “best”. But that is the case here. Bravo Akiko.