This lovely disc features Arthur Grumiaux’s art at its most winning. In the G minor concerto he gives a passionate account of the introduction, leading to a very beautiful but always flowing Adagio, with plenty of variation in timbre and very intelligent phrasing. The finale packs a good, solid punch, with the double-stops in its main theme “crunching” in a most satisfying way. The Scottish Fantasy comes off just as well. This really is a major work, larger than the concerto by a good bit, and it’s remarkable that we hardly ever hear it played in concert anymore. The opening of the Allegro guerriero (“warlike”) finale, featuring the solo backed by thrumming harp, is one of the most thrilling moments in the entire violin literature, and Grumiaux knows it. Heinz Wallberg and the New Philharmonia accompany with distinction, and Philips’ sonics (of early ’70s provenance) have held up very well. A splendid reissue.
