Sibelius did not in fact mark the opening movement of his Violin Concerto tenebroso appassionato, but he might has well have. Nor did he acknowledge having swiped the opening gesture of the first movement of Sinding's Violin Concerto for the closing movement of his Violin Concerto, but he certainly should have. No matter: so effectively fuliginous and so affectingly expressive is Sibelius' Violin Concerto that adjectives are invidious and comparisons are odious. This 2004 recording with violinist
Henning Kraggerud with
Bjarte Engeset conducting the
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on Naxos expresses the quintessence of appassionato as it emphasizes the relationship between the Sibelius and Sinding concertos by putting them on the same disc.
Kraggerud plays with immense power, enormous technique, and a raging appassionato, while
Engeset conducts with huge strength, colossal control, and a rigorous sense of rhythm.