Franck, Grieg, Janacek Violin Sonatas / Repin

Vadim Repin (violin) & Nikolai Lugansky (piano)

Franck, C: Violin Sonata in A major Grieg: Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major, Op. 13 Janacek: Violin Sonata

Vadim Repin and his pianist partner Nikolai Lugansky have just recorded a compilation of three magnificent but utterly different Romantic violin sonatas. The overtly emotional Franck sonata is the new album’s centrepiece, and also the work that the two artists have played together most often. By contrast, says Vadim Repin, the “Janáček is the most intimate and emotional music you could imagine. Then the Grieg is another substance again. It’s somehow like 19th-century Mozart – very truthful, natural writing. His emotions are really direct reflections.” And about the recording as a whole, Repin exclaims: ”This is a documentary of two people who perform together and love this music.” “Fiery commitment and technical aplomb,” declared the New York Times reviewing Repin/Lugansky live, while the Los Angeles Times dubbed them “the high-powered Repin-Lugansky team” and, after a recital including the Franck, the Boston Globe reported that “they left their audience cheering after every piece... Each seems more interested in exploring the personalities of the composers than in making a parade of his own”. This is chamber music-making on the highest level. Vadim Repin will, of course, continue to perform these three sonatas live, whenever possible with Nikolai Lugansky: “I feel a great connection to his sense of phrasing. It is something I can always be confident to be part of, to follow or to take the idea further. We trust each other.” The two artists’ exceptional chemistry and mutual understanding are clearly audible in this remarkable new recording.

Price: $15.98