Emil Mlynarski Violin Concertos deserve wider audience

In Poland, Emil Mlynarski (1870-1935) is a major musical figure. He was the founding conductor of the Warsaw Symphony in 1901. He was also a virtuoso violinist who studied with Leopold Auer. And he studied composition with Nicolai Rimsky-Korsokov. Mlynarksi's noted for incorporating Polish traditional music into his works.

This release features his two violin concertos. Mlynarski completed his Violin Concerto No. 1in D minor in 1897. As a violinist, Mlynarski was a rising star, and this concerto is a real showpiece of his skill.

Polish violinist Piotr Plawner performs with a keen sense of musicianship. While there are some extremely difficult passages in this work, he never loses track of the melodic line. It helps pulls the work together, particularly in the cadenzas. to

Mlynarski revisited the genre in nineteen years later. His Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major seems a more fully-developed work. The orchestra has more to do, and Mlynarski seems to use them more effectively. The form is also looser, giving the music an elegiac and sometimes improvisatory feel.

The technical tricks seem to have been dialed back as well. There's still plenty for Plawner to do, though. His playing in this work is wonderfully expressive, making the lyrical passages sound exceptionally beautiful.

My only quibble with this release is that the ensemble has a slightly hollow sound to it. Perhaps the mics should have been a little closer? But that's minor. Otherwise, a fine release of two concertos that should be better known outside of Poland.

Emil Mlynarski Violin Concertos
Piotr Plawner, violin
Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra; Lawel Przytocki, conductor
DUX 1616