Various Composers - The Polish Violin, Vol. 2 (Jennifer Pike; Petr Limonov)

Information

• (01) Karol Szymanowski - Violin Sonata in D minor, Op. 9
• (04) Karol Szymanowski - La Berceuse d'Aïtacho Enia, Op. 51
• (05) Karol Szymanowski - Trois Caprices de Paganini, Op. 40
• (08) Irène Poldowski - Violin Sonata in D minor
• (11) Grażyna Bacewicz - Kaprys polski (Polish Caprice)
• (12) Irène Poldowski - Tango

Jennifer Pike, violin

Petr Limonov, piano

Date: 2021

Label: Chandos

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2020189

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Review

Richard Bratby was little short of bowled over by Jennifer Pike and Petr Limonov’s first volume of music by Polish composers (2/19), his only regret being that the programme wasn’t crowned ‘with one of the big Szymanowski pieces’. Well, here that piece is – the Violin Sonata in D minor, full of the personality, sensuality and security that characterised the earlier disc.

RB identified the ‘glistening, succulent sweetness’ of Pike’s tone. It’s not an icing-sugar sweetness, though, but rather a rich caramel, with a good hit of salt to bring out the full effect of the complex flavours of Szymanowski’s remarkably confident student sonata. The Berceuse d’Aïtacho Enia, named after the villa occupied by its dedicatee, the Boston heiress Dorothy Jordan Robinson, distils further the Debussian sensuousness of the sonata, while Szymanowski’s personal approach to harmony enlivens a trio of transcriptions of Paganini caprices – including an idiosyncratic set of variations on the ubiquitous Caprice No 24.

Equal to the Szymanowski in scale and ambition is the Sonata, also in D minor, by Poldowski – the pseudonym of the remarkable Irène Régine Wieniawska, daughter of Henryk Wieniawski and wife of a minor aristocrat, to whom she was introduced by Dame Nellie Melba, no less. Perhaps the rubric is stretched a little far here: despite her Polish parentage, Poldowski was born in Brussels and spent much time in Paris and London – indeed, the other available recording of the sonata is on a disc called ‘British Women Composers’ (Naxos). Nevertheless, it’s a worthwhile discovery, combining a fine-tuned melodic sensibility with an ear-catching way with harmony.

With the bonus of a delicious Tango by Poldowski and an unaccompanied Polish Caprice by (the echt Polish) Grażyna Bacewicz, this follow-up is just as ravishing as its predecessor. Limonov provides authoritative piano support for Pike and her 1708 Goffriller in the sympathetic surroundings of Potton Hall.

-- David Threasher, Gramophone

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/Nov/Polish-violin-v2-CHAN20189.htm

https://www.classical-music.com/reviews/chamber/the-polish-violin-vol-2-pike-limonov/

https://www.thestrad.com/reviews/jennifer-pike-the-polish-violin-volume-2/13721.article

https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-polish-violin-vol-2-bacewicz-poldowski-szymanowski-mw0003579875

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Jennifer Pike (born 9 November 1989) is a British violinist. She studied at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Pike was a member of the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme from 2008–2010. Following her success in the BBC Young Musician of the Year, Pike has played in concerts and recitals in major venues all over the world. She curated 'Polish Music Day' at Wigmore Hall in London, and has had many pieces written specially for her. Her extensive discography includes recordings with Chandos, Sony and ABC Classics.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Pike

http://www.jenniferpike.com/

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Petr Limonov (born 16 June 1984 in Moscow) is a Russian-British pianist and conductor. He studied at the Moscow Central Music School, the Royal Academy of Music (London), the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, and the Royal College of Music. His teachers include Hamish Milne, Dmitri Alexeev and Maria João Pires, among others. After winning First Prize at the Nikolai Rubinstein Competition in Paris, Limonov started giving concerts throughout Europe and Russia. He made his conducting début in 2013 at Cadogan Hall, London. Limonov has recorded for Decca, Onyx Classics, Chandos and Champs Hill labels.

https://www.petrlimonov.com/

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