Arabella Steinbacher - Béla Bartók - The 2 Violin Concertos - Orchestre de la Suisse Romande - Marek Janowski - PentaTone PTC 5186.350 (2010)
SACD rip via PS3 to iso (3.06GB) | 24bit/88.2kHz flac | Mch (2.33GB) (+5.99dB gain) | 2ch (1GB) DR16 (+6dB gain) | Classical

A Polyhymnia DSD recording :)
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This is the recording of these 2 matchless modern classics that we have been waiting for; any suspense that Arabella Steinbacher will not have the measure of the Hungarian idiom or the sheer fire-power required for these virtuoso pieces is banished almost immediately & the typically wide-ranging Pentatone SACD recording captures both the subtlety & the excitement. 
~ Barry Forshaw's CD Choice Dec 2010

The 2nd is undoubtedly the greater of these concertos, & this disc quite rightly starts with it. Its 1st movement can sometimes be too relaxed, coming as an andante rather than an allegro, & loosing rhythmic momentum in the more lyrical moments, of which there are many. Not here: Marek Janowski sets an ideal tempo, & Arabella Steinbacher's entry after the pulsing opening chords has bite & depth of tone, coupled with an absolute certainty of the direction of the music. Janowski ensures that the texture is always clear & well balanced, with harp & celeste glittering in the texture, & the all important wind solos taking their rightful place. In the slow movement Steinbacher continues with her winning ways, every note has meaning, & her considerable technique & variety of tone, phrasing & rubato always fits the music like a glove. Her emotional perception of this movement is matched by her quicksilver changes of mood in the finale, capturing the earthy & the playful with panache. In 1st Concerto, inspired by Bartok's unreturned love for the violinist Steffi Geyer, Steinbacher responds to both the relatively uncomplicated romantic outpuring of the 1st movement, & the portrait of a more capricious Steffi in the 2nd. Janus-like, this concerto looks forwards & backwards in Bartok's compositional style, & Steinbacher had the measure of both. 
~ BBC Music Magazine 


      Tracks:

01-Violin Concerto No. 2  - Allegro non troppo
02-Violin Concerto No. 2  - Andante tranquillo
03-Violin Concerto No. 2  - Allegro molto

04-Violin Concerto No. 1 - Andante sostenuto
05-Violin Concerto No. 1 - Allegro giocoso

      Time: 61.12

      Musicians:

Arabella Steinbacher - violin
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Marek Janowski - conductor

     Composer:

Béla Bartók

Recording venue: Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland (June/July, 2009)
Executive Producer: Job Maarse
Recording Producer: Job Maarse
Balance Engineer: Erdo Groot
Recording Engineer: Roger de Schot
Editing: Roger de Schot


http://www.filefactory.com/folder/84d5190dca2fabf5
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Checksum for iso:
7fc629f2f9968bb53fbea5c6da2cb5c6 *Arabella Steinbacher, Violin - Bela Bartok The 2 Violin Concertos.iso

Checksums for flac tracks Mch:
e882bc41729539ba786a2dbfa13d78c7 *01 - Arabella Steinbacher, Violin; Orchestre de la Suisse Romand - Violin Concerto No. 2 - Allegro non troppo.flac
2285ee309e8749146117f31610b46525 *02 - Arabella Steinbacher, Violin; Orchestre de la Suisse Romand - Violin Concerto No. 2 - Andante tranquillo.flac
1b183145d6df2df75d9575f1f4424adf *03 - Arabella Steinbacher, Violin; Orchestre de la Suisse Romand - Violin Concerto No. 2 - Allegro molto.flac
22d0afb83d09d691f8537186786d1749 *04 - Arabella Steinbacher, Violin; Orchestre de la Suisse Romand - Violin Concerto No. 1 - Andante sostenuto.flac
f52b64bdd1ac912fffebbaaf5fcc4cc5 *05 - Arabella Steinbacher, Violin; Orchestre de la Suisse Romand - Violin Concerto No. 1 - Allegro giocoso.flac

Checksums for flac tracks 2ch: