Austrian virtuoso Benjamin Schmid has been winning golden plaudits, especially on the continent, and this terrific live Salzburg Festival performance of Korngold's Violin Concerto demonstrates why. Not only does he generate a spine-tingling rapport with Seiji Ozawa and the Vienna Philharmonic but his playing, brimful of elegance, affectionate warmth and temperament, betokens a very real empathy with this gorgeous score.
One readily forgives any tiny slips along the way, given the big-hearted dedication, spontaneity and palpable sense of occasion that leap out of the speakers. The audience were understandably enthralled, too – so much so that their enthusiastic applause at the end of the first movement seems to take Schmid by surprise (he takes a few bars to settle at the start of the slow movement).
Otherwise, it's a genuine 'tingle fest' from start to finish: the opening Moderato nobile is ideally glowing and heartfelt, the slow movement has exactly the right blend of innocence, intimacy and tenderness, while the boisterous finale is imbued with a wicked sense of fun. In all of this Ozawa and the VPO play their full part.
Towards the end of the festival Schmid teamed up with his chamber ensemble in the Mozarteum for the marvellous five-movement Suite for two violins, cello and piano (left hand) that Korngold wrote in 1930 for Paul Wittgenstein. It's been a lucky work in the recording studio, with excellent versions listed above. These splendidly accomplished and watchful newcomers convey the greatest sense of teamwork and joy of new discov- ery but all three groups impressively surmount the technical challenges of Korngold's urgently communicative inspiration and wisely eschew any temptation to wallow in the heaven-sent 'Lied'.
The main offerings frame perhaps rather less distinctive performances of music from MuchAdo About Nothing and Das Wunder der Heliane.
However, the rewards elsewhere are copious.
No major grumbles, either, with the sound on these Austrian Radio tapes – and the price is right, too.

Austrian virtuoso Benjamin Schmid has been winning golden plaudits… and this terrific live Salzburg Festival performance of Korngold's Violin Concerto demonstrates why. Not only does he generate a spine-tingling rapport with Seiji Ozawa and the Vienna Philharmonic but his playing, brimful of elegance, affectionate warmth and temperament, betokens a very real empathy with his gorgeous score. ...Schmid teamed up with his chamber ensemble... for the marvellous five-movement Suite for two violins, cello and piano (left hand) that Korngold wrote in 1930 for Paul Wittgenstein. These splendidly accomplished and watchful newcomers convey the greatest sense of teamwork and joy of new discovery...