Schubert : Music for Violin & Piano

Mining the archives can produce curious results: since Schubert's violin and piano output was small, and since the demands of a Double Decca are large, we get a cello and piano add-on at the end, in the form of Schubert's "Arpeggione" sonata played by cellist Maurice Gendron and pianist Jean Françaix. Recorded in 1954, their sound quality is primitive, but their leisurely approach makes an interesting foil to that of the main event. Don't be put off by the fact that these chamber sonatas are minor works, with only intermittent hints of the divine poignancy of Schubert at his best. The early ones offer fascinating glimpses of his genius unfolding; the later music, which is rarely performed, is shot through with unexpected textures and harmonic shifts. And it's all wonderfully played: Goldberg's Polish background--and tuition from the great Carl Flesch--is reflected in his quintessentially central-European expressiveness and purity of tone; Lupu, whose playing is now rather eccentric, has here found the perfect mode for the occasion. As Schubert intended, the instruments have parity--there's no question of "piano accompaniment". The (unsigned) programme note is excellent on the music, but why nothing on the performers? They aren't all dead, and they're also rather interesting. Would you have guessed that Françaix's other activities included writing the music for the films of Sacha Guitry? --Michael Church

Disc 1

  1. Sonatina in D for violin & piano, D384 - 1. Allegro molto
  2. Sonatina in D for violin & piano, D384 - 2. Andante
  3. Sonatina in D for violin & piano, D384 - 3. Allegro vivace
  4. Sonatina in G minor for violin & piano, D408 - 1. Allegro giusto
  5. Sonatina in G minor for violin & piano, D408 - 2. Andante
  6. Sonatina in G minor for violin & piano, D408 - 3. Menuetto
  7. Sonatina in G minor for violin & piano, D408 - 4. Allegro moderato
  8. Sonatina in A minor for violin & piano, D385 - 1. Allegro moderato
  9. Sonatina in A minor for violin & piano, D385 - 2. Andante
10. Sonatina in A minor for violin & piano, D385 - 3. Menuetto
11. Sonatina in A minor for violin & piano, D385 - 4. Allegro
12. Sonata for Violin and Piano in A, D.574 "Duo" - 1. Allegro moderato
13. Sonata for Violin and Piano in A, D.574 "Duo" - 2. Scherzo (Presto)
14. Sonata for Violin and Piano in A, D.574 "Duo" - 3. Andantino
15. Sonata for Violin and Piano in A, D.574 "Duo" - 4. Allegro vivace
 

Disc 2

  1. Fantasia in C, for Violin and Piano D.934 - 1. Andante molto
  2. Fantasia in C, for Violin and Piano D.934 - 2. Allegretto
  3. Fantasia in C, for Violin and Piano D.934 - 3. Andantino
  4. Fantasia in C, for Violin and Piano D.934 - 4. Tempo primo-Allegro-Allegretto-Presto
  5. Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in A minor, D.821 - 1. Allegro moderato
  6. Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in A minor, D.821 - 2. Adagio
  7. Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in A minor, D.821 - 3. Allegretto