I have always dreamt of playing it in concert and recording it, and from the bottom of my heart I would like to thank all those who made this album possible, starting with my friend Frédéric Chaslin, the key figure in this project, firstly for conducting the Elgar Concerto, then for arranging a highly original instrumentation of the Delius Suite, and also for playing its piano part.- Nicolas Dautricourt

“If you want to know who, for me, is the greatest living composer, I’ll tell you without hesitation – it’s Elgar, whom I place on the same level as my idols Beethoven and Brahms!” So said the great virtuoso Kreisler.’ Nicolas Dautricourt continues: ‘This Concerto, with its unbridled lyricism and unique proportions, is an Everest for any violinist.’ In this, his first recording for Channel Classics, the French violinist brings together three works by two English composers.
In 1888, in the same year Elgar wrote the famous Salut d’amour for his fiancée Caroline Alice Roberts, Frederick Delius composed his Suite for Violin and Orchestra, one of his very first works. The Suite, which only received its premiere in 1984, is heard here in this insightful arrangement by Frédéric Chaslin for violin, piano and string quartet.

Nicolas Dautricourt – violin
Frédéric Chaslin – piano & direction
BBC Wales National Orchestra
Capriccio Quartet