To graciously round off his time as conductor of the National Orchestra of Belgium, Walter Weller has chosen for his sixth album at the head of the Brussels-based phalanx, a composer that he holds dear to his heart, quite in keeping with his successful first Martinů album (FUG531) which was warmly received by the international press. This time he offers the listener a chronologically coherent programme.

Martinů’s Symphony No.1 was commissioned by Sergei Koussevitzky for his Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1942. This highly attractive work, marked by a slow and poignant movement haunted by the spirit of the Lidice massacre, is dedicated to the memory of his wife Nathalie Koussevitzky. Among the enthusiastic audience that attended the piece’s premiere was Misha Elman, then at the height of his fame and success. The virtuoso immediately approached Martinů with the request that he compose a violin concerto for him. It was no sooner said than done: Martinů delivered the piece in April 1943.

Lorenzo Gatto, whose career has seriously taken off since being awarded second place at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in2008, defends this concerto, one of the finest written in the middle of last century, with enthusiasm and all means necessary. Noticed on Fuga Libera for two very beautiful recordings (Deconstructing the Wall – FUG 565, and the Fourth Concerto which appeared on the Complete violin concertos of Vieuxtemps – FUG 575), Gatto here confirms his place as one of the greatest talents of his generation.

The liner notes are signed Harry Halbreich, the undisputed authority on Bohuslav Martinů.