Violin Concerto In D Major / Duo Concertant / Card Game (Jeu De Cartes)

This release, catalogued as HCR-5208, was issued in 1964 as part of a reissue series by Dover Publications. Dover, primarily known as a publisher of academic and archival books, sought to make essential twentieth-century classical repertoire accessible to students and scholars through these budget-conscious vinyl pressings. The selection showcases Stravinsky’s neoclassical period, contrasting the technical rigor of his Violin Concerto with the playful, jazz-inflected rhythms of his ballet score Card Game.

The recording features violinist Ivry Gitlis, whose interpretation of the Violin Concerto is noted for its idiosyncratic phrasing and emotional intensity, diverging from the more clinical approach often associated with Stravinsky’s own conducting. The accompanying works, performed by the Bamberger Symphoniker under Heinrich Hollreiser, provide a stable foundation for these complex compositions. By packaging these recordings with scholarly liner notes, Dover intended to frame the music as a rigorous intellectual exercise, positioning the record as a didactic tool as much as a musical experience.