The young violinist Alina Ibragimova is already established as an admired recording artist, standing alongside great artists of the past and present with her versions of Bach and Beethoven's violin works. She appears on this latest release with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Vladimir Jurowski (in his Hyperion premiere) in a program which includes a classic of the concerto repertoire - Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor. Ibragimova's is a glittering, knife-edge performance, her playing a portrayal in itself of the music's passion held in control through exquisite craft. The Violin Concerto in D minor - an unusual and welcome pairing - is an early work, written when the composer was only thirteen. As with Mendelssohn's other juvenile works it is extraordinarily accomplished and exceedingly charming.
