When I was a child, my mother, a violinist, first introduced me to Yehudi Menuhin's recording which was breathtaking. I listened to it time and again. Mendelssohn's became my absolute favorite Violin Concerto! I've heard many recorded versions, have seen it performed live several times including twice with the CSO in Chicago.
But I have never felt the rush of emotions, nor have been so drawn INTO the music until I heard this recording by Cho Liang Lin! It's by far the most masterful, the most evocative performance I've ever heard! I can't imagine any other performance that comes CLOSE to his. While I LOVE Itzhak Perlman's style and really enjoy the virtuosity of Joshua Bell, no other violinist comes close to Lin's interpretation. Just listen to the 2nd Movement. Lin NEVER fails to bring tears to my eyes -- it's hauntinglly beautiful. Lin is amazing.