Anne-Sophie Mutter – Bach, Bologne, Previn, Vivaldi, Williams – CD

‘Stupendous brilliance, breathless virtuosity. Anne-Sophie Mutter’s Virtuosi thrilled at the Vienna Musikverein’ (Die Presse). In June 2023, star violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter gave an impressive concert in Vienna with her Virtuosi ensemble. Based on this, a varied album has now been created, with music by Antonio Vivaldi, J. S. Bach, Joseph Bologne, André Previn and John Williams. ‘Growing up, I’m on the trail of storytellers,’ Mutter says of her work with the Virtuosi, a rotating ensemble of current and former Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation scholarship holders. Under Mutter’s professional and musical direction, the ensemble is tailor-made for baroque and classical music. This is now evident on this album with Vivaldi’s Concerto for Three Violins, RV 551, the Presto movement of ‘Summer’ from the Four Seasons, J. S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, and the Violin Concerto by Mozart’s contemporary Joseph Bologne. But the repertoire also reflects Mother’s love of contemporary works: The Virtuosi perform André Previn’s Nonet dedicated to Anne-Sophie Mutter. The music of Hollywood legend John Williams can also be heard, and two works are arrangements from Cinderella Liberty and Schindler’s List, reworked especially for the Virtuosi.

1 I. Allegro – Anne-Sophie Mutter, Elias David Moncado, Mohamed Hiber
2 II. Andante – Anne-Sophie Mutter, Elias David Moncado, Mohamed Hiber
3 III. Allegro – Elias David Moncado, Mohamed Hiber
4 I. Allegro Moderato – Anne-Sophie Mutter
5 II. Andante – Anne-Sophie Mutter/Mutter’s Virtuosi
6 III. Allegro Assai – Mutter’s Virtuosi
7 I. A Promenade – Mohamed Hiber, Hwayoon Lee, Lionel Martin, Elias David Moncado, Samuel Nebyu, Matthew Lipman, Margarita Balanas, Dominik Wagner
8 II. Tempo Ad Libitum – Slow – Mohamed Hiber, Hwayoon Lee, Lionel Martin, Elias David Moncado, Samuel Nebyu, Matthew Lipman, Margarita Balanas, Dominik Wagner
9 III. Presto – Dominik Wagner
10 I. (Allegro) – Mohamed Hiber, Hwayoon Lee, Lionel Martin, Elias David Moncado, Samuel Nebyu, Matthew Lipman, Margarita Balanas, Dominik Wagner
11 II. Adagio – Anne-Sophie Mutter, Mutter’s Virtuosi
12 III. Allegro – Mutter’s Virtuosi
13 I. Allegro Moderato – Anne-Sophie Mutter, Mutter’s Virtuosi
14 II. Largo – Mutter’s Virtuosi
15 III. Rondeau – Anne-Sophie Mutter/Mutter’s Virtuosi
16 Nice to Be Around – Anne-Sophie Mutter
17 Presto – Anne-Sophie Mutter/Mutter’s Virtuosi
18 Theme – Anne-Sophie Mutter
19 Theme (From “Schindler’s List” (Version for Solo Violin and String Orchestra)) – Anne-Sophie Mutter