Since his 2019 Carl Nielsen Competition triumph, 24-year old Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene has emerged as a rapidly rising talent on the international violin scene.

He made his Australian debut alongside pianist Jennifer Marten-Smith at the Melbourne Recital Centre as part of a national tour, presenting a demanding program of seven works spanning various eras and countries.

Johan Dalene and Jennifer Marten-Smith: Northern Lights. Photo © Cameron Jamieson

The evening opened with Beethoven’s Sonata No. 8, Op. 30, showcasing the duo’s meticulous ensemble work and synchronisation in fast passagework. Dalene projected the sonata’s effervescence on his 1725 ‘Duke of Cambridge’ Stradivarius with clarity, while Marten-Smith’s articulate pianism provided an ideal counterpart. Their exchanges were executed with precision and élan.

Next was the world premiere of Musica Viva’s new commission Tilted Scales, composed by New York-based Australian composer Jack Frerer.  The piece explores unconventional sound worlds, featuring harmonics, slides, jazz-like harmonies and quite literally tilted scales. Dalene demonstrated admirable command of the violin’s extreme registers, complemented by Marten-Smith’s flowing gestures and singing tone on the piano.

Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir d’un lieu cher (Memory of a Beloved Place) formed the emotional core of the...