RECORDING OF THE MONTH RECORDING OF THE MONTH BARGAIN OF THE MONTH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS A London Symphony Oboe Concerto £11 post free World-wide RACHMANINOV Elegy, Preludes, Piano concerto 3 £12 post free World-wide CHAUSSON, DEBUSSY RACHMANINOV TRios 2CDs £16 post free World-wide

BUY NOW  Crotchet   AmazonUK   AmazonUS

Carl Nielsen (1865 - 1931) Sonata in A, Op 90, for Violin and Piano (1895) [21.09] Sonata #2 ["in g"] op 35, for Violin and Piano (1912) [19.01] Præludium og Tema med Variationer for Violin solo (1923) [15.06] Preludio e Presto for violin solo (1928) [10.30] Demertzis Georgios Demertzis, violin; Maria Asteriadou, Steinway piano Model D Notes in English, Danska, Deutsch, and Français BIS CD 1284 [67.03]

From the opening the First Violin Sonata is immediately identifiable as having been written by the young Nielsen of the First Symphony. The work is rhapsodic, lyrical, ecstatic, like the best of early Nielsen. The Second Sonata is grander and more mystical, occasionally playful, in the style of the middle and later symphonies, with which it is contemporaneous. The Theme And Variations is so difficult that it has been performed rarely, but violinist Demertzis tosses it off with utter aplomb and complete lack of struggle as if it were the easiest thing in the world. As a result we can relax and really enjoy it. Naturally it contains vigorous arpeggiated passages, as well as lyrical episodes. While it is unlike other Nielsen works it is easily accessible. The Preludio e Presto is for "prepared violin" as the soloist is required to apply a mute to one string while playing on another. The work is written without key signature or bar-lines giving it much of the character of a free improvisation. In spite of this daring modernism for its time, even the conservative critics were pleased. Violinist Demertzis studied with Max Rostal and here plays dramatically, powerfully, assuredly, with brilliant tone. Pianist Asteriadou, a prize winner at the Maria Callas International Piano Competition in Athens, presents the fiendishly difficult piano parts with virtuosity, drama and beautiful tone. The two artists work together with complete understanding and make this music sound easy to play, which it most assuredly is not. Recording is close and extremely accurate — one hears the dampers lifting off the piano strings, and on one occasion one can hear the violinist take a breath before beginning a movement. Violin tone is very sharp, but the deepest bass seems missing from the piano sound. Paul Shoemaker   Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage There will be NO VAT Rises [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

Return to Index

Reviews from previous months Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the discs reviewed. details We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin Board Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to which you refer.