Jenő Hubay - Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Suite for violin and orchestra (Hagai Shaham)

Information

Composer: Jenő Hubay

• Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor "Concerto dramatique", Op. 21
• Suite for violin & orchestra, Op. 5
• Violin Concerto No. 2 in E major, Op. 90

Hagai Shaham, violin

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Martyn Brabbins, conductor

Date: 2006

Label: Hyperion

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Review

This excellent disc follows up the earlier Hyperion issue from these same performers of Jeno Hubay’s other two violin concertos, Nos 3 and 4. Once again the composer demonstrates what an outstanding lyricist he was, particularly in the first of the concertos, the Concerto dramatique, in which one good tune follows another, each of them a candidate for the sort of virtuoso figuration designed to show off the brilliance of the soloist. Hubay himself was a formidable violinist who, to celebrate his 50th birthday in 1908, played this concerto in a concert when his other three violin concertos were played by his pupils Josef Szigeti, Franz von Vecsey and Stefi Geyer, dedicatee of Bartók’s early Violin Concerto No 1.

Hubay composed that first concerto in 1884-85 for his former teacher, Joseph Joachim, and much of the writing tends to bring to mind Bruch’s concertos, which is no disadvantage. No 2 dates from around 1900 and though the first movement is less distinguished, with a rather rigid main theme like a patriotic song, it too is a tuneful piece. The second and third movements are even more attractive, a charming interlude leading to a sparkling Hungarian dance finale.

The Suite, Op 5 (1877-88), another concertante work for violin, starts rather unpromisingly with a gavotte which, with its square main theme and hammered double-stopping, sounds more like a march. The other three movements are freer-running in their lyricism: genre pieces, an ‘Idylle’ marked Andantino, an Intermezzo and a dazzling finale full of virtuoso writing, which misleadingly opens with a brief reminiscence of the opening movement.

As in the earlier disc, Hagai Shaham plays not just with brilliance but with great imagination, avoiding any idea that this is just superficial display music. As in so many of Hyperion’s concerto recordings, Martyn Brabbins and the BBC Scottish SO demonstrate what sympathetic accompanists they are, consistently giving an impression of live music-making. The full and vivid recording made in Caird Hall, Dundee, equally lives up to the high standard expected in Hyperion’s enterprising concerto series.

— Edward Greenfield

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Jenö Hubay (September 15, 1858 – March 12, 1937) was a Hungarian violinist, teacher, and composer. He studied with his father Károly Hubay, a professor of violin at the Budapest Conservatory, and with Joseph Joachim in Berlin. Hubay was also a close friend Henry Vieuxtemps, whom he succeeded as professor of violin at the Brussels Conservatory in 1882. From 1919 to 1934 he was director of the Budapest Conservatory. As a composer, Hubay composed four violin concertos and a very large number of encore pieces. His output also contains several operas, some of which were written in Hungarian.

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Hagai Shaham (born July 8, 1966) is an Israeli violin virtuoso. He began studying the violin at the age of six and was the last student of the late Professor Ilona Feher. In September 1990, Shaham and his duo partner Arnon Erez won the first prize at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich. As a soloist he has performed with many of the world's major orchestras, as well as in recitals and chamber music performances. Shaham regularly tours throughout Europe, and North and South America, performing at international recital series and festivals. He has recorded for the Biddulph, Hyperion, Avie and Naxos labels.

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