Aged 16, Esther Yoo became the youngest violinist to be placed in the International Jean Sibelius violin competition, and six years on, she has returned to the composer’s concerto – which all finalists have to play – for her debut recording. While it’s the strength and passion of her playing that shines through rather than an especially individual take on the work, hers is a rounded, vibrant performance. She has red-blooded support from the Philharmonia Orchestra under Vladimir Ashkenazy, and with them makes something punchy of the cross-rhythms in the final movement. The Glazunov Concerto in A minor should be heard more often; Yoo is a convincing advocate, lavishing thick, dark tone on its long melodies, though occasionally making the ends of phrases sound blunt. Sibelius’s little Suite for Violin and Strings can usually sound quirkier than this, but the Grand Adagio from Glazunov’s ballet Raymonda gets a performance the sumptuousness of which is entirely fitting.
