The Strad Recommends: Stella Chen: Barber, Beethoven

THE STRAD RECOMMENDS

The Strad Issue: May 2026

Description: An outstanding young artist comes of age

Musicians: Stella Chen (violin) Academy of St Martin in the Fields/Jean-Jacques Kantorow

Works: Barber: Violin Concerto. Beethoven: Violin Concerto

Catalogue number: PLATOON PLAT29431

Stella Chen plays the long opening paragraphs of Beethoven’s concerto with glistening tone and purity of line even as the solo part leaps about energetically, and she builds powerfully to the orchestral tuttis. In the development there is flexible playing in the arpeggio passagework over the bassoons before the appearance of the hushed and sinuous G minor melody.

She plays Kreisler’s cadenza with virtuoso flair, as well as a touch of creative editing at the end. The Larghetto is a joy, played with melodic freedom, rhythmic subtlety and glorious tonal shading. The finale dances energetically, with Kreisler making a second effective appearance.

She treats Barber’s concerto with great tendresse. In the more vivacious second solo passage she does just as Barber marks, animando poco a poco (not to mention grazioso e scherzando) and leads the music to a suitably anguished orchestral tutti.

The second movement opens with glorious oboe playing from Steven Hudson. Later Chen plays the sort-of-cadenza of the più tranquillo section with limpid tone and deep feeling, before she too draws marvellous warmth from her G string for the theme.

She blazes through the Presto in good virtuoso style. Jean-Jacques Kantorow and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields are in constant close accord. The recording is well balanced and warm.

TIM HOMFRAY