Khachaturian: Violin Concerto (Jose Serebrier/ Nicolas Koeckert/ Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) (Naxos: 8.570988)
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Armenia's greatest composer Aram Khachaturian received both acclaim and criticism from the Soviet regime, including the USSR State Prize for his three 'Concerto-Rhapsodies'. ''A concerto is music with chandeliers burning bright; a rhapsody is music with chandeliers dimmed, and the Concerto-Rhapsodies are both'', he explained.
The 'Violin Concerto's' passionately heroic first movement and poignant Andante sostenuto lead to a virtuosic, dancing finale.Both works on this disc brim with the full-blooded lyricism of his much-loved ballet 'Spartacus', Suites Nos. 1-3 of which are available on 8550801.
'American Record Guide' praised Nicolas Koeckert's ''fantastic violin playing'' on his previous Naxos recording (8570583).