These are the four albums the globetrotting Canadian violinist likes to listen to when he’s not cutting his own discs.

Bartók
Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta
Chicago Symphony/Reiner
RCA G010000267776F

Number one is the Bartók music for Strings Percussion and Celeste, the recording with Chicago Symphony and Fritz Reiner from, I think probably the late ’50s or early ’60s. It’s a recording that I grew up with. Every few years I re-obsess over this recording. It’s not that it’s a perfect recording, it’s just that it’s a recording I feel gets really right to the heart of one of my very favourite pieces. A piece that I need in my life once in a while. And then once I get started listening I can’t stop. It’s warm but very immediate and it’s spectacular.

Strauss
Four Last Songs
Auger, Vienna Philharmonic/Previn
TELARC CD80180

Number two is a recording of the Four Last Songs with Arleen...