This is a rather unusual form: few composers were tempted by a violin and piano partnership adjudicated by the orchestra. And yet, when listening to Mendelssohn’s Concerto in D Minor, it is obvious that the potential of expression is huge.

Even more so than in a concerto for a solo instrument, attentive listening is fundamental and requires chamber music skills from all the artists, conductor and orchestra included. Skills that both violinist Antje Weithaas and pianist Alexander Lonquich most definitely possess; although they perform the world over with the most famous orchestras, they have always kept a very special place for small ensembles in their concert diary.

As for the Camerata Bern – who also propose the string orchestra version of the 2nd Quintet in B flat Major on this Mendelssohn-only CD – they are quite simply the ideal partner for this repertoire.