Ida Haendel remains an exception among violinists. Even at 80 years young, she remains active on competition juries and everywhere that music is being played. Beginning with when the three-year Ida first picked up a violin, her wunderkind career took flight and has not stopped since. No other great violinist has enjoyed so long and successful a stage career.

While she has had an enduring concert career, her recordings are relatively few, though she has performed with many of the last century's greatest conductors, most notably Sergiu Celibidache.

A striking feature of Ida Haendel is her insatiable musical curiosity, embracing everything from Bach to the present. Her joy of music-making can be heard in every score she performs, with sparks flying and effortless virtuosity, but also profound reserve and balance when the music demands it. These very attributes can be heard in the two pieces on the present recording.

This is the third and final CD featuring the unpublished recordings of Ida Haendel to appear on Hänssler Classic's SWR music historic series. Two major works are represented - the never before released Khachaturian and Bartok concertos. Haendel has total identification with this music, presenting it with devotion, personal reference and an innate ability to phrase and colour this rich music.