The violinist Midori has been a celebrated performer for more than 35 years. This recording of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, complemented by his two Romances for violin and orchestra, marks the composer’s 250th birthday in December 2020.

On this recording Midori directs the Festival Strings Lucerne. The sessions, which took place in March this year, were originally planned around a concert in the Swiss city, but under pandemic conditions it was cancelled – along with subsequent concerts in the UK, Singapore, China and Korea. The recording, however, went ahead under special conditions.

“Beethoven guided my colleagues and me,” says Midori, “his work focusing and inspiring us, our concentrations heightened ... Beethoven has provided a fortunate focus for me in such fraught times. His determination still provides a model for humankind, leading us to recognize the best in our world as we reach toward the many achievements of which we are all potentially capable.”