Integral Concertos for Violin and Orchestra by Antonin Dvořák - CD Review, the 6^th of February 2024

Antonin Dvořák - Mazurka op. 49 for violin and orchestra; Concerto op. 53 in A minor (Mikhail Pochekin, the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Daniel Raiskin).

Debut album, released on the 5^th of January

In 2024, Czech Republic celebrates "The Year of Czech Music", marked by anniversaries of some important composers of this country, one of them being Antonin Dvořák. On the 1^st of May it will be 120 years since his birth. Violinist Mikhail Pochekin is one of the musicians who have dedicated recordings to the Romantic composer on this occasion. The talented 34-year-old soloist released an album on the 5^th of January 2024 at the German label Hänssler Classics, an album featuring the complete works for violin and orchestra by Antonin Dvořák, which were printed last spring at the Concert Hall of the Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava.

About the Czech composer's work, violinist Mikhail Pochekin says the following: "I feel a deep humanity in Dvořák's music. He was a master of orchestration and created extraordinarily beautiful melodies and harmonies, but above all he emphasized honesty and generosity. When we listen to his music, it reaches deep into our hearts," states the violinist who recorded this album with the Bratislava Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Daniel Raiskin, Principal Conductor of the Slovak ensemble and Music Director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Mikhail Pochekin, born in 1990, studied violin with Viktor Tretyakov, Rainer Schmidt, Ana Chumacenko and Christian Tetzlaff. He has won international awards in several prestigious competitions such as the Rodolfo Lipizer, Jascha Heifetz and Pablo de Sarasate competitions. He has a rich concert activity on important European stages and is the artistic director of the Bavarian Chamber Music Festival Landshut. He also has successful recording projects: he has recorded 6 albums to date, among his most acclaimed recordings being the Bach Sonatas and Partitas, Mozart's Concerto No. 5 and concertos for violin and orchestra by Bruch and Mendelssohn.

Mikhail Pochekin has a special affinity for 19^th century music, his refined sound and consistent timbre being well suited to the Romantic repertoire, as can be seen from his recent album of complete works for violin and orchestra by Antonin Dvořák: Concerto Op. 53 in A minor, Romanza Op. 11 in F minor and Mazurka Op. 49.