Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op 64 Britten Violin Concerto, Op. 15 Tchaikovsky Sérénade mélancolique, Op 26.

Bohren plays on a 1767 Guadagnini; his solo Bach has already impressed, and here in an inspired concerto coupling he once again shines. Bohren has recorded Mendelssohn’s earlier D minor concerto; he shows a real feel for the flow of the E Minor, the RLPO is on top form under Litton. The Andante is rapid, yet one attunes via Bohren’s glorious long-breathed melodies. The transition between Andante and Finale is far more than a linking passage here, the Finale a model of clarity.

The Britten violin concerto is one of the composer’s finest works, deserving far greater currency. Timpani at the opening are crystal clear here, the work’s mix of tension and lyricism gloriously achieved. The Scherzo has more than a touch of devilment; the Passacaglia is Britten at his greatest, and we feel it here. This performance sits with Vengerov.

The Tchaikovsky is not mentioned on the disc cover; the performance, also, seems less involved.

COLIN CLARKE Read the full review on Agora Classica