Bruch dedicated his Scottish Fantasy to Sarasate some years later, but it was the great Joseph Joachim who gave the first performance of Bruch’s Concerto No 1. As it happens, Capuçon shares a birthday with Edouard Lalo, born in 1823 – and with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart too! As Renaud Capuçon explains: “These three works, first heard between 18, are among the most famous in the history of the violin, and there are links of friendship and respect between their three composers – Lalo, Sarasate and Bruch: Lalo dedicated his Symphonie espagnole to Sarasate. It gives me pleasure to share these ideas about our most famous violin concerto and I hope you enjoy the performance. The Bruch concerto became the first piece to be recorded there, in May 2015. Ray Chen is a violinist who redefines what it is to be a classical musician. Capuçon made the recordings with Paavo Järvi and the Orchestre de Paris at the orchestra’s new home, the French capital’s Philharmonie, which opened in early 2015 and was immediately hailed for its superb acoustics. Born in Vilna in 1901, he became a sensation at the age of six when he made his debut playing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. This release of the best-known works of three composers – Edouard Lalo, Pablo de Sarasate and Max Bruch – marks this important personal occasion in a suitably festive fashion. Renaud Capuçon exudes a youthful air, but, now firmly established as one of the world’s leading violinists, he celebrates his 40th birthday on 27 January 2016.
