One often has the impression listening to the music for violin and orchestra of Camille Saint-Saëns that the soloist has played it once too often (particularly in the cases of the Havanaise, and the Rondo Capriccioso). Not so the new recording by an 18 year old girl called Leia Zhu. The performances of the two works sound fresh and youthful. Ms Zhu can be tender; she can be fierce. Dynamics are admirably varied; technique is impeccable. I enjoyed the performance here of the first concerto, but particularly of the second.
I got to know the Saint-Saëns second concerto years ago by the Israeli violinist Ivry Gitlis. In the second movement, Gitlis slobbered all over the lovely themes and indulged in an ugly on-off vibrato I have never forgotten. It was so awful! Ms Zhu is far more tasteful, and gives a lovely performance of the work.
The CD is well recorded and well balanced, and the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Howard Griffiths makes an admirable contribution. Altogether, a highly satisfactory CD to which I shall often return, particularly for Leia Zhu's fresh, tasteful and enthusiastic playing.
