The venerable
Handel and Haydn Society
has evolved in interesting ways over the last decade under a variety of new directors that have included, as here, its concertmaster,
Aisslinn Nosky
. The group has become a distinctive kind of historically oriented ensemble, with gut strings, reduced vibrato, and generally fast tempos. However,
Nosky
doesn't rip the traditional
sound up by the roots; the sound of the group is warm, and it is aided by the acoustic of the wood-paneled Symphony Hall in Boston. The present release is the second of a pair devoted to
Mozart
's violin concertos. Both are worthwhile; this one gives a fresh, slightly rough-edged reading of the
first
,
second
, and
fifth
concertos that contrasts sharply with the usual highly sweet French-style versions.
is especially effective in the
Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219
, with its "Turkish rondo" finale; she applies a good deal of vigor throughout and in an internal cadenza in the finale. The first two concertos, less often played, tend to be a bit shapeless in conventional performances but are lively and adventurous here. There are other good performances of the
concertos on historical instruments, notably by
Isabelle Faust
, but these are worthy of strong consideration. ~ James Manheim