Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 – Hindemith: Violin Concerto

1. Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77: Nocturne. Moderato (14:16)
2. Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77: Scherzo. Allegro (6:22)
3. Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77: Passacaglia. Andante – Cadenza (15:22)
4. Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77: Burlesque. Allegro con brio – Presto (4:55)
5. Hindemith: Violin Concerto: I. Mäßig bewegte Halbe (9:46)
6. Hindemith: Violin Concerto: II. Langsam (11:08)
7. Hindemith: Violin Concerto: III. Lebhaft (11:28)

Violinist Alexandra Tirsu presents her debut album comprising concertos by Dmitri Shostakovich and Paul Hindemith. Shostakovich’s music has resonated with her since childhood, its atmosphere reflecting the war stories she grew up with. Violin Concerto No. 1 unfolds like a psychological journey–from a shadowy opening to a fierce scherzo, an emotionally charged passacaglia, and a wildly ironic finale. Hindemith’s rarely performed Violin Concerto, which Alexandra first explored at the ARD Competition in Munich, reveals a different voice: clear, structured, and quietly expressive. Recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Vasily Petrenko, this album captures a moment of depth, identity, and emotional connection through two powerful 20th-century works.