Gidon Kremer, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Kim Kashkashian - Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos.1 & 2, Duo for Violin and Viola (2007)

Violinist Gidon Kremer joined Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for a series of recording sessions beginning in October 1983, in Vienna. Viola player Kim Kashkashian also joined them for several sessions. Together they recorded Mozart's five Violin Concertos, along with the fabulous Sinfonia Concertante, KV 364, and the results have been released several times by Deutsche Grammophon. This CD is, I believe, the first one that resulted. Subsequent recordings for the later violin concertos were then issued on individual CD, and ultimately they were all combined together in a two-CD package. The performances have also been captured on DVD. I've listed all of these various releases below.

Back to this recording itself, these are excellent performances of the first two violin concertos. I think that they hold their own in the face of immense competition (see notes below for several of the most prominent others to be considered). Penguin commented to these performances: "this is exceptionally vivid music-making. The solo concertos are played simply and stylishly, but Harnoncourt's always alive and richly expressive accompaniments give the music-making the lift which ensures that Kremer's playing never slips into routine". The International Record Review said "this is a fine set" (referring to the full set of all five concertos), and Fanfare commented that "the admirable recorded sound, these joyous and penetrating performances . . . continue to occupy . . . the same general territory as do Grumiaux's and Stern's . . . Highly recommended" (these quotes taken from the Deutsche Grammophon website listing for the recordings.