Slavic Blood

The two musicians Lenka Matĕjáková (violin) and Dariya Hrynkiv (piano) possess Slavic sound in their blood. You can hear this in the glowing recordings of their debut CD, which is dedicated exclusively to Czech composers. The two prizewinners of numerous competitions follow the stylistically diverse paths of works by Antónín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček, Josef Suk and Bohuslav Martinů down to the smallest detail. With enthusiasm and deep insight, they allow us to experience how each of the four composers uniquely unite national heritage with European culture. A musical treat!

Martha Argerich’s return to the studios in two concertos she has not previously recorded is an uplifting moment. As always with this most mercurial of virtuosos, her playing is generated very much by the mood of the moment, and those who heard her in Prokofiev’s First Concerto with Muti at London’s Royal Festival Hall some years ago – a firestorm of a performance – may well be surprised at her relative geniality with Dutoit. Her entire reading is less hard-driven than from, say, Richter or Gavrilov, her opening arguably more authentically brioso than ferocious, her overall view a refreshingly fanciful view of Prokofiev’s youthful iconoclasm.