Buried treasure

Flautist Ana de la Vega introduces three lesser-known works from her collection

Tsintsadze Five Pieces on Folk Themes

Daniil Shafran (cello), Nina Musinyan (piano) Cello Classics CC1008

These little gems exist for several instrumentations, but it’s the cello version that grabs me, especially through Shafran’s heartmelting playing in this 1957 recording. Georgian composer Sulkhan Tsintsadze possessed this art of writing directly into someone’s heart, often with original harmony turns. My favourites are the two slow pieces, Arobnaya and Lullaby.

Castelnuovo-tedesco Violin Concerto No. 2, Op. 66 ‘I profeti’

Jascha Heifetz (violin); Los Angeles Philharmonic/alfred Wallenstein RCA G0100026436513

Written for the fingers of the almighty

Jascha Heifetz, the three movements of this thrilling work bear the names of the Old Testament prophets Jeremiah, Elijah and Isaiah. The unusual cadenza in the first movement, for violin and harp, is a wonderful highlight – elements of Rimsky-korsakov’s Scheherazade come to mind. But with Heifetz playing (he had a very close relationship with the composer) the emotional charge is breathtaking.

Olli Mustonen Nonet No. 2

Tapiola Sinfonietta/olli Mustonen Ondine ODE9742

Mustonen adds a double bass to the classic string octet, setting this work off with a little more spice. From Morse Code in the opening, through a beautifully meditative slow movement, to a dazzling presto finale, in my opinion this is Mustonen at his finest, and I believe he will find his place as one of the most original and skilled composers of the 21st century. There are fantastic players at work here too.

Ana de la Vega’s album of Haydn and Stamitz concertos is reviewed on p138