Various: James Ehnes: Homage (Onyx Audio DC2-CD set)

2008 Grammy and Gramophone Award winner James Ehnes pays tribute to the world's most celebrated violin-makers in this unique ONYX project featuring performances on 12 of the greatest instruments ever made. The Fulton Collection is perhaps the most important private collection in the world and contains many examples of the legendary names Stradivari, Guarneri, da Salo and Guadagnini. For example, the priceless La Pucelle has never been heard in a recording, and the Lord Wilton was Yehudi Menuhin’s last instrument.

Ehnes performs 21 selections in a carefully planned recital programme specially chosen to suit each instrument and to work on its own terms. It finishes with a section comparing each instrument in an excerpt of the same piece, a unique opportunity to contrast the sound qualities of these spectacular instruments.

Ehnes says of the instruments: “I didn't want to spare them a full workout. I wanted to select repertoire that would show off their particular tonal characteristics and push them to the limit and me to my limit as well."

The DVD has the complete performances plus spectacular close-ups of the instruments and substantial interview sequences - Strads vs Guarneris, the importance of the bow, Ehnes’ relationship with the Fulton Collection and his preparation for the recording sessions. David Fulton also talks about his passion for collecting these rare instruments and says: “Ehnes is the only one who could have done this and is today’s David Oistrakh.” The highly collectible package includes detailed notes by Ehnes himself.

Ehnes’ 2009 dates in UK include: Jan: Tchaikovsky Concerto Basingstoke & RFH (Philharmonia/Sokhiev); Brahms Concerto Manchester (BBC PO/Herbig); Feb: Elgar Concerto Swansea/Cardiff (BBC NOW/Hickox); March Nielsen BBC PO plus SCO tour, Liverpool with Petrenko and London including Elgar Concerto with LSO/Hickox in June


Violins

Stradivari: 1709 “La Pucelle”,1713 “Baron d'Assignies”, 1715 “Marsick”, 1715 “Baron Knoop”, 1719 “Duke of Alba”, 1733 “Sassoon”, Pietro Guarneri: 1698 “Shapiro” Guarneri del Gesù: 1737 “King Joseph”, 1742 “Lord Wilton”
Violas
Gasparo da Salò: c.1560, Andrea Guarneri: 1676“Count Vitale, ex Landau”, Giuseppe Guadagnini: 1793 “Rolla”

Eduard Laurel piano All instruments courtesy of the Fulton Collection