Welcome

This month has been excellent for violinists, and for programmes full of discoveries and insights. Our Recording of the Month (see right) is a duo album from violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and pianist Polina Leschenko, hopefully the first of many from this pairing. Their disc brilliantly highlights juxtapositions and connections between works from France and Hungary. Our Instrumental Choice is a scintillating solo album from Michael Barenboim, who explores music with a devilish theme from Tartini to Sciarrino (p145). And turn to our Chamber Choice for violinist Thomas Albertus Irnberger and pianist Barbara Moser’s showcase of unjustly neglected composers (p140). Beach’s Violin Sonata is the centrepiece of a superb CD that also includes works by Röntgen-maier and Viardot-garcia.

reviews editor