Jörg Widmann treats the violon at first as a vocal instrument, just in the tradition of the great violin concertos of the 19th century through to Alban Berg. But from the cantabile lines, often written 'sul tasto' and 'flautando', emerges again and again a virtuosity which is just as important to the genre and which, based on contemporary playing techniques, causes enticing problems for every player. As the orchestra is reduced to a demanding, yet rather accompanying function during the almost 3...