The Brahms Violin Concerto has been recorded so often that exceptional performances should not be as rare as they are. But this is one of them...Chailly calibrates an ideal balance. Kavakos's violin tone is super-refined and elegant.

This is indeed a splendid recording of the Concerto. The Gewandhaus Orchestra sound bright and resplendent in the great D major tuttis...with Chailly ensuring perfect balance. Leonidas Kavakos, too, alongside his customary ringing tone and clear, polished delivery, gives evident care and thought to the shaping of each phrase.

it is not so much tempo as transparency of texture that marks this account of the concerto as special. As in the symphonies, Chailly encourages an almost limpid, chamber-music-like approach from his outstanding players...Kavakos lets his hair down in the showy finale

it demonstrates not only the wonderful poise and instinctive elegance of Kavakos's playing...but also the transparency that is such a characteristic of Chailly's Brahms with this orchestra...It's a long time since there was a new version of this concerto as good as this