Stravinsky: Suite Italienne / Schubert: Fantasie, d. 934 / Ravel: Violin Sonata / C. Schumann: Romanze, Op. 22:1
Mullova and Labeque open their varied recital spanning 100 years of violin-piano music with Stravinsky's charmer, the Suite Italienne, a transcription of a cello transcription of scenes from the composer's ballet,Pulcinella. The piece works well on the violin, and the duo play it for all its worth, Mullova indulging in some discreet portamentos and lavishing a meltingly sweet tone in the lovely Serenata movement. The Tarantella sparkles, the Scherzino dances. Stravinsky is followed by the Schubert Fantasie, one of the composer's strangest and finest works. Mullova's rendition of the hushed opening is spacious and beautifully done, even if lacking the mystery and drama heard in vintage recordings by Joseph Szigeti and Adolph Busch. When the piece morphs into the Allegretto, the duo offer brilliant playing, and in the start of the long Andantino, Mullova thins her tone to a fragile wisp. This is an effective performance of a great piece, as is the Ravel Sonata that follows, especially noteworthy for its soulful, sultry Blues movement. This stimulating recital ends with Clara Schumann's brief but lovely Romanze, a delicious dessert to a stimulating musical meal that can't fail to satisfy lovers of violin-piano duets.--Dan Davis