Nikolai Roslavets Violin Sonatas Nos. 1, 4 & 6 (solomia Soroka)

The great composer of piano music Nikolai Medtner also wrote three violin sonatas (and other works for the instrument), two of which are recorded here. The ‘Sonata Epica’ is, as its title suggests, one of the most ambitious and colossal works in the repertoire, and without doubt one of the most important violin sonatas of the twentieth century. It draws deeply on Medtner’s Russian heritage, with intimations of orthodox chant and folk dances. Its continual syncopations show why Medtner was fleetingly regarded as one of Russia’s most progressive composers during the first decade of the twentieth century, yet also contrast with an essentially conservative harmonic idiom. The Sonata No 1 is more understated and reminiscent of Fauré.

The name of Martha Argerich on any label always means fire, and so it is here. She and Gidon Kremer play with quite exceptional urgency and temperament, and the bright, clear recording brings up both instruments with a sheen. In fact the music springs at you with such immediacy that anyone previously of the opinion that Schumann was showing signs of tiredness in these latish works will be compelled to think again.

The second volume of the Beethoven 'Violin Sonata' cycle, from James Ehnes and Andrew Armstrong, follows the critically acclaimed release of 'Sonatas Nos. 6& 9, 'Kreutzer'. This album contains the three early 'Op. 12, Sonatas' (which Beethoven dedicated to his teacher Antonio Salieri) and ends with the early 'Variations on a Theme From Mozart's Marriage of Figaro'.