Viktoria Mullova (violin), Alasdair Beatson (piano)
Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23
Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Op. 24 "Spring"
Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor, Op. 30 No. 2
Celebrated violinist Viktoria Mullova and her regular duo partner, pianist Alasdair Beatson, return to the timeless chamber music of Ludwig van Beethoven with this reissue. The album spans a fascinating range of the composer's expressive soundscapes: from the quirky, strange, and gnomic landscape of the Fourth Sonata, to the radiant, deeply lyrical phrasing of the immensely popular Fifth ("Spring") Sonata, and finally the stormy, dramatic tension of the Seventh Sonata, captured in Beethoven's trademark, tragic C minor mood.
Mullova's legendary artistry relies on an incredibly subtle range of vibrato, trading away "creamy" beauty for its own sake in favor of an intense, raw, and historically informed clarity. Supported by Beatson's equally responsive and nimble keyboard accompaniment, this release sets a high-water mark for period-conscious Beethoven playing.
"Mullova’s playing, its strength and power resting on many years’ association with Beethoven and his music, strikes spark off not only her piano support but also the sonic purity of her surroundings and the constant, still challenging invention of each score. Her tone is rich but not creamy, and never lapses into mere beauty for its own sake. Among recent recordings of such familiar repertoire, this one must surely rank among the finest." — Gramophone Magazine
