Schubert: Complete Works for Violin and Piano Vol. 1 - Fischer, Helmchen
PentaTone Classics PTC 5186347
Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid
Classical - Chamber
Schubert: Violin Sonata in D major D.384, Violin Sonata in A minor D.385, Violin Sonata in G minor D.408, Rondo Brillant D.895
Julia Fischer (violin)
Martin Helmchen (piano)
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Review by John Broggio - April 27, 2010
With her penultimate disc for PentaTone, Julia Fischer provides a compelling illustration of the artistic qualities that will be missed in these quarters.
The Sonatina's D384, 385 & 408 are too often dismissed as trivial works - compared to say the String Quintet this may be fair - but they compare favourably with many if not all of Mozart's output for the same combination. The listener coming to these works for the first time should note that they are sonatina's for piano and violin (not the other way around) and signify a more equal partnership than many composers utilised from the same era. This is reflected in these truly wonderful performances from Helmchen and Fischer. Throughout, there is care in the balance so that the accompaniment never obscures the melodic line (be it from the violin or piano) and the integration of ornaments and (slight) rubato is a joy to the mind as it is the ear - everything just feels right.
To conclude the first disc in the projected pair, the brilliant Rondo in B minor D 895 is offered and is a piece where the violin does become the dominant partner, although as is common in most (if not perhaps all) late Schubert considerable demands are placed on the skills of the pianist. It goes without saying that both protagonists here have more than the requisite technical fire power to cope with the demands - fortunately they use it with taste and restraint so that it never threatens to transform itself into a performance of proto-Brahms.
The sound as well is of the same high standard as the playing and in every possible way, this issue cannot be faulted.
Highly recommended and this listener is eagerly awaiting volume 2!
Copyright © 2010 John Broggio and HRAudio.net
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