Nikolai Medtner - Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2 (Lydia Mordkovitch; Geoffrey Tozer)

Information

Composer: Nikolai Medtner

• (01-03) Violin Sonata No. 1 in B minor, Op. 21
• (04-15) Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major, Op. 44

Lydia Mordkovitch, violin
Geoffrey Tozer, piano

Date: 1994
Label: Chandos
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%209293

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Review

Lydia Mordkovitch and Geoffrey Tozer face stiff competition in this repertoire from Alexander Shirinsky and Dmitri Galynin, not only because they offer exceptionally fine performances, but also because their two-CD set offers all three violin sonatas plus the remaining (very attractive) shorter works that make up Medtner's total output for violin and piano. Having said that, Mordkovitch and Tozer may well follow this up with a second disc featuring the remaining pieces, and besides, they present performances that are as fine as those of their rivals. Anyway, the opportunity of hearing these sonatas afresh has only increased my admiration for these neglected gems, and if their appearance means that they gain even greater popularity then so much the better.

In general, Mordkovitch's readings emphasize a more lyrical and relaxed approach (as opposed to Galynin's more intense and passionate readings), and this is particularly so in the lyrical first movement of the short, attractive First Sonata—a little too relaxed perhaps in the outer sections of the lilting second movement ''Danza''. Elsewhere (for instance the Allegro appassionato and Finale-Rondo of the Second Sonata), I sensed in Mordkovitch's performance a more intuitive grasp of structure which allowed the music to unfold with a degree more ease and direction. Nevertheless, in their own way, both artists are persuasive interpreters of these works and can be strongly recommended to the first-time explorer. The recorded sound is warm and well balanced.

-- Michael Stewart, Gramophone

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Nikolai Medtner (5 January 1880 [O.S. 24 December 1879] – 13 November 1951) was a Russian composer and pianist. A younger contemporary of Rachmaninoff and \Scriabin, he wrote a substantial number of compositions, all of which include the piano. His works include fourteen piano sonatas, three violin sonatas, three piano concerti, a piano quintet, two works for two pianos, many shorter piano pieces, a few shorter works for violin and piano, and 108 songs including two substantial works for vocalise. Despite his conservative musical tastes, Medtner's compositions and his pianism were highly regarded by his contemporaries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Medtner

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Lydia Mordkovitch (30 April 1944 in Saratov, Russia – 9 December 2014 in London, England) was a Russian-born British violinist. She studied at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory under David Oistrakh, then serving as his assistant from 1968 to 1970. Mordkovitch settled permanently in the UK and signed a recording contract with Chandos in 1980, after RCA, the label with which she previously had a contract, went bankrupt. She was featured in over 60 recordings for Chandos, many of which were with the conductor Neeme Järvi. Mordkovitch also became a professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London in 1995.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia_Mordkovitch

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Geoffrey Tozer (5 November 1954 – 21 August 2009) was an Australian classical pianist and composer. A child prodigy, he composed an opera at the age of eight and became the youngest recipient of a Churchill Fellowship award at 13. His career included tours of Europe, America, Australia and China. Tozer had more than 100 concertos in his repertoire, many of which were recorded by him for the Chandos label, beginning with the works of Medtner. Tozer won numerous awards and much recognition worldwide, but suffered comparative neglect in Australia during the last years of his life.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Tozer

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