Ariadne Daskalakis, Kölner Kammerorchester - Tartini - Violin Concertos (2005)

Naxos continues in its very fine tradition of bringing together brilliant, lesser-known soloists and equally skilled and underrated orchestras in this recording of five (out of 135) of Tartini's violin concertos. Violinist Ariadne Daskalakis and the Cologne Chamber Orchestra unite to produce a thoroughly enjoyable album. Tartini's works rely less on outright virtuosity and more on extensive use of ornamentation. Playing on her 1769 Guadagnini violin, Daskalakis' vibrant and eloquent ornamentation absolutely sparkles. Her approach to the instrument, while still very much in the Baroque tradition, is powerful and warm. The slow middle movements of each of the concertos, which are quite vocal in quality, present long, spun musical lines and are played with as much thoughtfulness and tenderness as could be hoped for. Daskalakis' cadenzas, which are heard in all but the G major Concerto, are flashy but maintain the character and decorum established by Tartini. The Cologne Chamber Orchestra, led by Helmut Müller-Brühl, is equally deserving of praise. Though at times the harpsichord is a little underpowered, the performance on the whole is extremely elegant and vivacious, matching the energy and élan of the soloist. This album is absolutely worth checking out and simply cannot be beat for the price.