Beethoven Plus, Vol. II

Beethoven: Violin Sonatas, Op. 30 Nos 1 & 2, Op. 47 (Kreutzer),

& Op. 96; Ashworth: Air;

D Matthews: Sonatina, Op. 128; Schwertsik: Unterwegs nach Heiligenstadt;

M Taylor: Tarantella Furiosa

Krysia Osostowicz (violin),

Daniel Tong (piano)

Somm Recordings SOMMCD 0197-2 137:38 mins (2 discs)

It’s an elegant idea, and it has paid off. Instead of just presenting another cycle of the complete Beethoven Violin Sonatas, violinist Krysia Osostowicz and pianist Daniel Tong have presented them alongside a set of speciallycommissioned works for violin and piano which in some way reflect, complement or otherwise set up the Beethoven sonata they introduce.

Some of the new works play their part better than others: aside from being very winning in its own right, Kurt Schwertsik’s Unterwegs nach Heiligenstadt prepared the way for Op. 30 No. 1 so effectively that I genuinely found myself listening to the Beethoven with new ears. Matthew Taylor’s Tarantella Furiosa emerges compellingly, if also slightly ironically, from the wake of the Kreutzer Sonata’s finale. I’m not sure David Matthews’s Sonatina enhanced my enjoyment of

Op. 96 particularly, but it’s so rich, touching and tuneful in itself that it hardly matters.

The Beethoven recordings sound very much ‘as live’, with the odd passing blemish left as it is – but

I’d certainly put up with that for performances as involving and fresh-sounding as these. Op. 30

No. 1 was a stand-out for me, while (contrary to normal expectations) the Kreutzer got better as it went along. The wonderful Op. 96 takes a little while to settle expressively (a touch of self-consciousness at first?), but once it does it finds a delicate balance between depth and playfulness that’s hard to beat amongst contemporary versions, and the rapport between the players is clear right from the start. For live recordings, the sound quality is outstanding. Stephen Johnson PERFORMANCE ★★★★ RECORDING ★★★★★