Debussy / Franck / Ravel: Sonata for Flute, Viola & Harp / Sonata for Violin & Piano etc.

Kyung-Wha Chung and Radu Lupu collaborate on the most musical account of the Franck sonata in the catalogue, one that restores to the work its Gallic elegance, a quality that rarely survives the passion of most performances. Their reading is intimately expressive, almost fragile, and in Chung's playing the dreaminess of the score is beautifully evoked. With his brilliant technique and sparing use of the pedal, Lupu manages an extraordinary revelation of detail in the piano part, transforming what usually sounds like a furnace going full blast--lots of heat and noise, but not something you'd want to get too close to--into a source of poetry. The recording, made in 1977, is warm and approachable, like the performance. At mid-price, and generously filled out (with Ravel's Introduction and Allegro, and Debussy's Sonatas for Violin and Piano and for Flute, Viola, and Harp) this is as basic as a disc can get. --Ted Libbey

1. César Franck: Sonata for Violin and Piano in A - 1. Allegretto ben moderato
2. César Franck: Sonata for Violin and Piano in A - 2. Allegro- Quasi lento- Tempo 1 (Allegro)
3. César Franck: Sonata for Violin and Piano in A - 3. Recitativo - Fantasia (Ben moderato - Largamente - Molto vivace)
4. César Franck: Sonata for Violin and Piano in A - 4. Allegretto poco mosso
5. Claude Debussy: Sonata for Violin and Piano in G minor, L.140 - 1. Allegro vivo
6. Claude Debussy: Sonata for Violin and Piano in G minor, L.140 - 2. Intermède (Fantasque et léger)
7. Claude Debussy: Sonata for Violin and Piano in G minor, L.140 - 3. Finale (Très animé)
8. Maurice Ravel: Introduction and Allegro
9. Claude Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp - 1. Pastorale
10. Claude Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp - 2. Interlude
11. Claude Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp - 3. Finale