Be sure to catch the sound of Norwegian cultural heritage when Ole Bull Violin Concertos features as CD of the week on Symphony 92.4 FM 6-10 September 2010
Ole Bull (1810-1880) was an adventurer, violin virtuoso, composer and international star who brought the name of Norway to worldwide attention. Within music and drama he was a pioneer in the development of a national identity, and on the concert stage his fabulous playing skills and intense charisma early won him the sobriquet "the Scandinavian Paganini".
Some of his most attractive tunes, as well as the rural potpourri Et Sæterbesøg have remained part of Norway's cultural heritage; on this recording they can be heard alongside his two virtuosic violin concertos and the fiery Spanish fantasia La Verbena de San Juan. The concertos and the fantasia were rediscovered only a few years ago, and this is the first recording ever made of these attractive works.
The music is performed by Norwegian violinist Annar Follesø together with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by Ole Kristian Ruud.
Information gathered from Lindberg Lyd AS