Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) : Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) : Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28

The Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35, was written by Tchaikovsky in 1878. It is scored for solo violin, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets in A and B-flat, two bassoons, four horns in F, two trumpets in D, timpani and strings.

The Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28, for violin and orchestra was written in 1863 by Camille Saint-Saëns for the virtuoso violinist Pablo de Sarasate. 

Michael Rabin managed to be one of the most talented and tragic violin virtuosi of his generation. Hailed as a child prodigy, his talent matured gracefully into an adult level, but he failed to follow in his emotional growth, resulting in a cutting short of his career. He never reached the age of 36, yet remains one of the most fondly remembered of virtuoso violinists for listeners and fellow musicians.

The "golden age" of recordings was from 1955 to 1965, at the beginning of the LP and the stereo era, where pure vacuum tube amplification helped produce recordings demonstrating unparalleled fidelity and warmth, lifelike presence and illumination.

This Testament Records LP, revived from the EMI-Columbia catalogue, was remastered at EMI Abbey Road Studios in London, using pure analogue components only, from the original studio tapes through to the cutting head, and was pressed at Pallas.