Various Composers - British Violin Sonatas Vol. 3 (Tasmin Little; Piers Lane)

Information

1. York Bowen - Sonata in E minor, Op. 112. I. Maestoso con fuoco
2. York Bowen - Sonata in E minor, Op. 112. II. Lento
3. York Bowen - Sonata in E minor, Op. 112. III. Finale. Allegro con fuoco
4. John Ireland - Sonata No. 2 in A minor: I. Allegro
5. John Ireland - Sonata No. 2 in A minor: II. Poco lento quasi adagio
6. John Ireland - Sonata No. 2 in A minor: III. In tempo moderato
7. James Francis Brown - The Hart's Grace
8. William Alwyn - Sonatina. I. Allegro e grazioso
9. William Alwyn - Sonatina. II. Adagio
10. William Alwyn - Sonatina. III. Vivace
11. Eric Coates - First Meeting

Tasmin Little, violin

Piers Lane, piano

Date: 2020

Label: Chandos

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2020133

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Review

Listening to these dedicated and insightful performances is especially poignant in the wake of Tasmin Little’s decision to retire from the concert stage. None of these pieces are well known, yet these gifted artists create the impression of having been playing them for years. Hearing Piers Lane launch fearlessly into the arresting opening of Bowen’s op.112 Sonata and the way Little then surges along with uncontainable bravado until they both magically relax into the first movement’s secondary material, makes one wonder, amazed, at how this glorious work isn’t a regular concert item.

No less intuitive is the way they capture the emotional ambivalence of Ireland’s Second Sonata (completed during the Great War), which brings passages of searing intensity and reflective nostalgia within terrifyingly close proximity. They also bring a welcome gravitas and expressive candour to the central Adagio of Alwyn’s Sonatina and shape Coates’s enchanting First Meeting (a viola original) with engaging freshness – Little’s trademark soaring cantabile proves especially potent here. Just as valuable is the premiere recording of The Hart’s Grace by James Francis Brown, a glowing miniature of ear-tweaking invention, composed especially for Little in 2016. Resplendent, impactful, immaculately balanced sound from Rachel Smith and Jonathan Cooper frames these wonderful performances to perfection.

-- Julian Haylock, The Strad

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/Apr/British_violin_v3_CHAN20133.htm

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/Jul/British_violin_v3_CHAN20133.htm

https://www.classical-music.com/reviews/chamber/british-violin-sonatas-vol-3/

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/16/british-violin-sonatas-vol-3-review-tasmin-little-piers-lane

https://limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/british-violin-sonatas-volume-3-tasmin-little-piers-lane/

https://www.amazon.com/British-Violin-Sonatas-Tasmin-Little/dp/B086BBXHQZ

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Tasmin Little (born 13 May 1965 in London) is an English classical violinist. She is best known and widely acclaimed as a concerto soloist, and also performs as a recitalist and chamber musician. Her first professional performance as a soloist was in 1988 with The Hallé. She made her first appearance at the BBC Proms in 1990, and has appeared regularly since. Little has been an exponent of the works of composer Frederick Delius throughout her career. She has released multiple albums, winning the Critics Award at the Classic Brit Awards in 2011 for her recording of Elgar's Violin Concerto.

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

http://www.tasminlittle.org.uk/

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Piers Lane (born 8 January 1958) is an Australian classical pianist. He graduated with a Medal of Excellence from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, where his teacher was Nancy Weir. Lane's performance career has taken him to more than 40 countries, including five times as a soloist at the BBC Proms. His concerto repertoire exceeds 75 works. Lane has an extensive discography on the Hyperion label and has also recorded for EMI, Decca, BMG, Lyrita and Unicorn-Kanchana. Lane is a well-known voice on BBC Radio 3, having written and presented more than 100 programs, including a 54-part series called The Piano.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piers_Lane

http://www.pierslane.com/

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