CLASSICAL: COLERIDGE-TAYLOR, DVOŘÁK, STEWART – Gil Shaham / Virginia Symphony Orchestra / Eric Jacobsen – Canary Classics
This isn’t the first album to pair Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto in G minor with Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A Minor. But it is the first time violinist Shaham has paired them and his playing on this album is simply perfection.
In addition to Shaham’s absolute musicianship, the album offers the world premiere of Curtis Stewart’s “F. Harper” from The Famous People. It’s a nearly five-minute composition the reworks Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances into works that include traditional American Slave dances.
Shaham gave the world premiere performance in March of 2023 with the Virginia Symphony. I was very impressed with this part of Stewart’s composition and can’t wait to hear the entirety of The Famous People. Hopefully it won’t be too long before a complete recording is available.
This is an excellent album that rewards listeners with superb performances.
