Kuusisto (pronounced KOOsisto) is a superb young Finnish violinist whose first recording goes right to the top of the list. This is an exceptionally fine modern recording of Sibelius' great Violin Concerto-it is so effortlessly natural, so sure of where it is going, that there's no point in comparing it to other versions. A lot of the credit must also go to Segerstam who not only accompanies with extraordinary care, but also does the other two works as well as they ever have been. Putting more Sibelius on the disc rather than some other violin concerto keeps the emphasis where it belongs: on the composer. --David Hurwitz