Chen Xi has an absolutely dazzling technique but, more importantly, also has a beautiful tone and superb musical style. Even in the earlier set, his playing of Capriccio No. 2 in F?-Minor is sensitively phrased and shaded, not merely display for display’s sake. Thus, his music is more consistently interesting in development and thematic relationships.

The op. 27 Caprices are…written with different sections in contrasting tempos. There is considerable interest in this music, as the technical marvels soon become an integral part of the evolving musical thread. Later in this piece, you hear a lot of themes…that remind me a great deal of some of Fritz Kreisler’s music. Likewise, the Caprice in G?-Minor leads into an Allegro section of considerable involvement, not only multiple themes but interesting development using the technique of the instrument as part of the music. This kind of musical brinksmanship is the hallmark of a fine composer, and Lipinski certainly qualifies in that respect. This kind of brinksmanship continues throughout the op. 27 Caprices, making of them truly creative and interesting music. These are, then, highly creative pieces for unaccompanied violin…

As mentioned, Xi is an outstanding violinist but, more importantly, he brings attention to the music, not to himself as a technical wizard. This is the hallmark of the true servant of music, to focus the attention on the score and not the messenger of the score. Very highly recommended, to lovers of violin music or lovers of music in general. © 2012 Fanfare Read complete review

El programa del disco lo integran los Tres caprichos op. 10, dedicados, por cierto, a Niccolò Paganini, y los Tres caprichos op. 27, todos para violín sin acompañamiento. Como es fácil de colegir, estas obras están inspiradas en los celebérrimos 24 del dedicatario de la primera serie, con un apabullante despliegue de pirotecnia sonora y una notable inspiración, aunque, justo es reconocerlo, sin alcanzar el embrujo melódico de aquellos.

Miembro destacado de esa joven generación de virtuosos chinos que está asombrando al mundo, Chen Xi (1984), tocando un instrumento fabricado por Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù en 1725, no sólo supera con absoluta brillantez las arduas dificultades técnicas que plantean esta partituras, sino también sabe poner de relieve sus calidades musicales. © 2012 Ritmo