Page 61 - The Strad (February 2020)

SESSION REPORT

'đ ;3 8-+,; Violinist Johan Dalene,
conductor Daniel Blendulf and producer
Jens U. Braun at Louis de Geer Concert Hall

because they’re somehow limited or not that straight away you hear every little My reaction when I learnt about the
free enough to be spontaneous during instance of non-togetherness or awed repertoire for the recording was that it
the recording. But he was able to make intonation in the orchestra. ere are was an eager choice of pieces. I know
changes as he went. also so many ways to interpret that both the Barber and the Tchaikovsky
We started with the Barber, which was opening. Daniel took a little time to well and have recorded both of them
the right decision. When recording, the make the orchestra understand how he before. I was really happy to see that
rst session always takes a little bit longer wanted it to be performed. e other Johan had something to say; he wasn’t
because the performers have to get to movements were easier, but the rst just reproducing interpretations that are
know how things work and the chemistry movement took a bit longer than I had already there. He’s still very young and
has to establish itself. So we deliberately expected. e sound is really important: it’s hard at that age to come up with
did not start with the Tchaikovsky, I rmly believe that if you don’t come your own version. But you can hear,
which is so dicult in its own right. up with a rst-class, top-notch sound particularly in the Barber, that he’s got
e very beginning of the Tchaikovsky then it’s really hard to compete in the a unique perspective and you don’t nd
has to be good; it’s so simple and open market nowadays. that every day.
INTERVIEWS BY TOBY DELLER

WORKS Barber Violin Concerto;
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
PHOTOS TORSTEIN AND INGER DALENE Symphony Orchestra / Daniel Blendulf
ARTISTS Johan Dalene (vn) Norrköping

RECORDING VENUE Louis de Geer
Concert Hall, Norrköping, Denmark
RECORDING DATES 7–11 January 2019
CATALOGUE NUMBER BIS 2440 (SACD)
Dalene: ‘When you are playing for the
microphone you can hear everything’
RELEASE DATE 3 January 2020
FEBRUARY 2020 THE STRAD 59
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