Fantasy: Works For Violin & Piano

Kaoru Yamada, Sholto Kynoch, Rhona McKail, Nicky Spence,

Messiaen - La Mort du nombre and Thème et variations
Schoenberg
Schubert - Sei mir gegrüsst!

Wholenote Discoveries - May 2011
This new CD from the UK-based Japanese violinist Kaoru Yamada and pianist Sholto Kynoch that features “Fantasy” works by Messiaen, Schoenberg and Schubert. The three Messiaen titles are early works springing from his relationship with the violinist Claire Delbos, with whom he toured in the early 1930s, and whom he married in 1932. La Mort du nombre, a setting of Messiaen’s own text, adds soprano and tenor to the duo; the influence of Fauré and Debussy is quite evident. Theme et variations is much more typical of Messiaen’s later (and instantly recognizable) style, with long, high melodic lines against steady, widely-spread piano chords and a wide dynamic range. Fantasie was believed lost, but recently discovered and published in 2007. Schoenberg’s Phantasy dates from 1949, and is typical late Schoenberg: assured, but technically challenging writing for both players. The two Schubert works seem a bit isolated after the fully committed performances of the 20th century material. The four-movement Fantasie has a set of variations based on Schubert’s own song, Sei mir gegrusst!, a somewhat pedestrian performance of the song itself ending the CD. Soprano Rhona McKail is the soloist for the latter, and is joined by tenor Nicky Spence in the Messiaen. Terry Robbins
Debut recital disc from long-established violin-piano duo, Kaoru Yamada and Sholto Kynoch

- Features performances from rising singing stars Rhona McKail (soprano) and Nicky Spence (tenor)
- Yamada and Kynoch met as students at London's Royal Academy of Music nearly a decade ago. The Schubert Fantasie was the first piece they played together and they have been performing as a duo ever since to critical acclaim.

"This debut recital disc stands out for high-quality playing but also for the inclusion of three fascinating early works by Messiaen"
The Observer

Price: $25.98