When reading about Sarah Nemtanu’s many musical accomplishments in 2012, it is hard to believe that she is only 31 years old. At the age of 21 she became the joint leader and violin soloist of the Orchestre National de France, and in 2007 she won the French classical music industry’s Instrumental Soloist Revelation award. In 2009 she was the ‘real’ violinist in Radu Mihaileanu’s film 'Le Concert'.

"This is one of my favourite works. The effect it had on me the first time I heard it was almost magical! I sensed I shouldn’t play it too soon; I preferred to save it for a special occasion...The special occasion has occurred. The gifted filmmaker Radu Mihaileanu was able to make the concerto his own through the sincere images and magnificent story of the film 'Le Concert', for which I had the pleasure of advising and doubling the actress Mélanie Laurent.

Mihaileanu’s favourite version for the lengthy final scene was a David Oistrakh recording with the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Eugene Ormandy. I had to adapt my tempi to theirs for the film, but what a pleasure it was to follow this marvellous violinist’s lead – as far as I’m concerned, he is the greatest of them all!

After 'Le Concert' was released, and although I could have taken advantage of the film’s reputation to help my own cause, I didn’t want to record the concerto. I took the time to create my own personal rendition. As chance (or magic. . .) would have it, the concert we recorded took place on 25 April last with the Orchestre National de France conducted by Kurt Masur at the Théâtre du Châtelet." Sarah Nemtanu