Leonid Kogan plays Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole and Sérénade Mélancolique by Tchaikovsky

Having tackled Kogan’s other masterful performances we complete the cycle of UK Columbia Stereo releases with this stunning interpretation of Lalo’s Symphony Espagnole. An influential and important work, originally written in 1874 for the famous and extraordinarily talented Spanish violinist Pablo Sarasate, it was premiered in Paris February 1875. The work is hybrid in nature, featuring elements of both symphony and concerto, the later providing wonderful passages of characterful writing and expression, a virtual nirvana for the virtuoso violinist. It is fascinating to engage with Kogan’s natural performance of a work so firmly rooted in Spanish tradition and heritage considering...