Anne-Sophie Mutter & Mutter's Virtuosi Bach, Bologne, Previn, Vivaldi, Williams 180g 2LP

"Stupendous brilliance, breathless virtuosity. Anne-Sophie Mutter's Virtuosi thrilled at the Vienna Musikverein." (Die Presse) In June 2023, star violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter gave an impressive concert in Vienna with her Virtuosi ensemble. Based on this, a varied album has now been created, with music by Antonio Vivaldi, J. S. Bach, Joseph Bologne, André Previn and John Williams. "Growing up, I'm on the trail of storytellers," Mutter says of her work with the Virtuosi, a rotating ensemble of current and former Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation scholarship holders. Under Mutter's professional and musical direction, the ensemble is tailor-made for baroque and classical music. This is now evident on this album with Vivaldi's Concerto for Three Violins, RV 551, the Presto movement of "Summer" from the Four Seasons, J. S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, and the Violin Concerto by Mozart's contemporary Joseph Bologne. But the repertoire also reflects Mother's love of contemporary works: The Virtuosi perform André Previn's Nonet dedicated to Anne-Sophie Mutter. The music of Hollywood legend John Williams can also be heard, and two works are arrangements from Cinderella Liberty and Schindler's List, reworked especially for the Virtuosi. Mutter has just been awarded an OPUS KLASSIK as "Instrumentalist of the Year" for her latest album with Williams.

...the album, taken from a live 2022 performance at the Vienna Musikverein, is a great deal of fun and shows this great violinist in fine form as she passes on her secrets to young followers.