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

Although he is best remembered for his highly regarded stage and orchestral works, Roussel also composed a significant body of masterful yet relatively unknown chamber music. The Romantic early First Violin Sonata is an epic journey of soaring majesty, while the later Second Violin Sonata is dramatic and succinct, sharing its dynamic neo-Classical style with the String Trio, Roussel’s last completed work.

Marco Enrico Bossi gained fame as one of the most influential Italian organ virtuosos of his day, and as a composer who helped lay the foundations for a new tradition of instrumental music in a country dominated by opera. Bossi’s First Violin Sonata has cyclical forms and a density of ideas that put it in line with César Franck’s famous sonata, with melodies as expressive as those of Rachmaninov. The Second Violin Sonata recalls a Classical style that refers more to Beethoven and Brahms while displaying the eloquence of Bossi’s personal idiom. Both of these works reveal a composer whose chamber music stands equal to the most renowned works produced in the late 19th century.

Although he is best remembered for his highly regarded stage and orchestral works, Roussel also composed a significant body of masterful yet relatively unknown chamber music. The Romantic early First Violin Sonata is an epic journey of soaring majesty, while the later Second Violin Sonata is dramatic and succinct, sharing its dynamic neo-Classical style with the String Trio, Roussel’s last completed work.

Glenn Gould has long been regarded as the reference on sonatas 2-3 but Krenek actually *conducted* Madge's performances of what must be one of the great twentieth century piano sonata cycles. The results are impressive and compelling. In this collection Madge's sonata no 2 in particular offers a completely new reading, bringing out elements that can barely be heard in Yudina (which is also a great performance!). Highly recommended ……

Eren Tasar @ Amazon.com

The name Niccolò Paganini almost instantly conjures up an image of the quintessential virtuoso. The composition most commonly associated with his name is the set of 24 Caprices, which are undeniable demonstrations of sheer technique and prowess on the violin. However, the violin concertos are not so entirely dedicated to dazzling audiences with almost unbelievable feats of extended techniques.

The name Niccolò Paganini almost instantly conjures up an image of the quintessential virtuoso. The composition most commonly associated with his name is the set of 24 Caprices, which are undeniable demonstrations of sheer technique and prowess on the violin. However, the violin concertos are not so entirely dedicated to dazzling audiences with almost unbelievable feats of extended techniques.

This double-CD group of Mozart violin-and-piano sonatas can stand on its own, and the title merely reads Mozart Violin Sonatas. It is, however, the third installment in a consistently fine Mozart cycle from pianist Cédric Tiberghien and violinist Alina Ibragimova. Deeper in the graphics the sonatas are denoted as being "for keyboard and violin," and indeed it is the keyboard that plays the dominant role even as the ways in which Mozart shakes up this configuration is part of the interest.