Lisa Batiashvili

Secret Love Letters

Deutsche Grammophon, 2022

8/10

Listen to Secret Love Letters

As you might be able to tell from the title, the violinist Lisa Batiashvili spearheads a romantic affair here, where she’s aligned with The Philadelphia Orchestra and its inspirational Music Director Yannick Nézet-Ségui for the very intimate 4 pieces.

César Franck’s “Sonata For Violin And Piano In A Major” opens with Giorgi Gigashvili’s sublime keys complementing Batiashvili’s gorgeous string prowess in the lovely, sometimes turbulent and always meticulous interaction between the pair.

In the middle, Karol Szymanowski’s “Concerto For Violin And Orchestra No. 1” recruits the full orchestra for sweeping moments of flowing beauty and mystery, where a very bright, cinematic quality unfolds, while “Poéme” is a very gentle affair, where Batiashvili’s radiant violin is quite poetic in the Ernest Chausson composition.

Claude Debussy’s “Beau Soir” exits the listen, and it’s the best track, where Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s eloquent piano helps illuminate the stirring violin that Batiashvili so carefully manipulates.

Love and all its facets and colors are explored here, and under Batiashvili’s exceptional vision and playing, we’re all treated to a body of work inspired by Late-Romantic Literature that will always be relevant.

Travels well with: Hilary Hahn & Hauschka- Silfra; Sheku Kanneh-Mason- Song