Gramophone Magazine: Best New Classical Albums “This is concerto-playing of the very highest order from Lisa Batiashvili and Daniel Barenboim. Every familiar phrase somehow manages to sound both authoritative and newly discovered. Our Audio Editor writes: This striking set, bringing together the luminous playing of Batiashvili and the Staatskapelle Berlin under Daniel Barenboim, is a delight from start to finish. The content may be familiar, and the orchestra’s approach definitely on the generous side, but the 96kHz/24bit Qobuz download brings extra clarity to the solo instrument, revealing the true wonder of Batiashvili’s technique, drama and lyricism. Listen to the CD-quality version and you get almost the whole story; step up to ‘hi-res’ and even more life is breathed into the recording, making it truly special.”
Presto Classical Top 10 Disc of 2016 “I had already decided that this recording was pretty special by the end of the first three bars: the way that Barenboim shapes the first phrase from the orchestral violins, delicate and tender, is just exquisite… Barenboim describes how Batiashvili’s playing is full of emotion whilst avoiding sentimentality, and speaks straight to the heart: I couldn’t agree more.” (James Longstaffe)
The Guardian Top 10 Disc of 2016 “Naming the soloist on the last concerto recording you heard is probably easy. But can you name the orchestra? On this disc, there’s no danger of forgetting that it’s Daniel Barenboim’s Berlin Staatskapelle; the quality of the orchestral playing, the warmth and depth of tone are constant reminders. They offer worthy support to outstanding, insightful performances from violinist Lisa Batiashvili, who, like Barenboim, here commits the Tchaikovsky concerto to disc for the first time. She’s a dreamy-sounding, inward soloist at the start, shaping the melodies with care yet propelling them forward – this mammoth work has rarely seemed so concise. The Sibelius soars and sings in the first movement, and dances in the finale with a rare agility.”
iTunes Best of 2016 – Classical Albums & Tracks
