Mendelssohn s Violin Concerto is one of the composer s greatest works and one of the most popular concertos in the repertoire. Making his first recording of the work, James Ehnes is partnered here by Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia Orchestra, recorded live. The astonishingly precocious Octet, written when Mendelssohn was just 16, is given a sparking and vivacious performance by James and his friends from the Seattle Chamber Music Society.