Home listening - virtuosic violin discs from Zhi-Jong Wang and Roman Simovic

The Guardian 0

The Chinese violinist impresses in Sibelius and Stravinsky, while the LSO leader excels with Paganini

• Two great 20th-century works are united on a powerful new disc from Accentus: Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D minor and Igor Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto in D, played by the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted with cogent high energy by Thomas Sanderling, with Chinese violinist Zhi-Jong Wang as a supple, poetic soloist. She creates an ideal mix of shadow and light, hush and fortissimo strength in the Sibelius, with agile and sensitive accompaniment from the Philharmonia. In contrast the sharp angles and clarity of the Stravinsky suit her iron-strong technique and virtuosity equally well, matched by crisp, nimbly rhythmic playing from the orchestra. A solo work, Drama: Beijing Opera by Lu Pei (b1956), is a rewarding bonus.