Buriedtreasure

Violinist Chloë Hanslip shares three musical rarities from her record collection

Sibelius Symphony No. 4 Lahti Symphony Orchestra/ Osmo Vänskä BIS BISCD861

I was familiar with the Second and Fifth Symphonies, which I think are the ones most people tend to know. When I listened to the Fourth for the first time, I remember it taking my breath away. It’s dark, brooding, almost depressing in a way – it had been a difficult time for Sibelius just before he wrote it. There’s something very particular about the third movement; a glimmer of light somehow comes through, and I think that’s what I found so beautiful. Weill Concerto for Violin and Wind Orchestra, Op. 12 Frank Peter Zimmermann (violin); Berlin Philharmonic/mariss Jansons Warner Classics 678 4342

I came to Weill through his songs and I wanted to delve a little more. I love the unusual instrumentation here: violin, wind orchestra, percussion and four double basses. It’s not something you get very often, and I enjoy the fact that there’s so much interplay and dialogue between the instruments. As soon as I heard it I was like ‘I want to play this!’, and happily I got the chance. It’s such a fabulous piece with so much wit and charm.

Walton Violin Concerto

Ida Haendel (violin), Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/paavo Berglund Warner Classics 764 2022

Ida Haendel is one of my idols; the intensity and commitment to every single piece is just phenomenal. I always remember she told me ‘we’re vessels through which the composer speaks’, and I think that comes through in her playing. I love the energy that she brings to this recording, and I think it’s such an incredible piece.

The first movement has this longing and searching opening, and the second and third movements are really quite virtuosic. There’s so much passion throughout – it’s a recording I treasure.

Vol. 3 of Chloë Hanslip’s Beethoven sonata cycle is out on Rubicon in September