Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto, Symphony No 5
Isabelle Faust v, Freiburger Barockorchester/Heras-Casado
Harmonia Mundi HMM902325

I will not be the only music lover who feels a little weary when coming to yet another recording of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. This masterpiece needs more than goodwill to get our attention and happily, it does so here. This new recording is a knockout and the coda to the first movement had me sitting bolt upright as it carried me on to its dazzling conclusion. It takes off like a race horse.

Not only does Isabelle Faust...