Karol Szymanowski: Music for violin & piano

Karol Szymanowski (Composer), Nicholas Durcan (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Nicholas Durcan
• Composer: Karol Szymanowski
• Audio CD (March 27, 2007)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B000MRP1T6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #304,544 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Striking, May 26, 2009

By 

David Saemann - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Karol Szymanowski: Music for violin & piano (Audio CD)

I was led to this CD by my interest in Szymanowski and by Miriam Kramer's excellent performance on her Bloch CD for Naxos. I was not disappointed. Miriam Kramer is a technically deft violinist, whose tone is rarely sweet but is always communicative. Her pianist, Nicholas Durcan, has a superb technique and a rich tone. These people really know how to play. They have a superb feeling for Szymanowski's various styles. The early Violin Sonata, written when the composer was 22, is somewhat undersold by the booklet annotator. I find it a superb example of late Romanticism, with lush tones and an indulgent development. Mythes is probably the high point of Szymanowski's output for these instruments. From the imitation of fountains in the first movement to the evanescent imagery of the last movement, it is a captivating work. Notturno and Tarentella is a dramatically pleasing concoction, very much exactly as described. The shorter works all are satisfying, not the least violinist Pawel Kochanski's transcription of the Chant de Roxane from the opera King Roger, a luminous and exotic creation for the violinist. Sound engineering throughout this disc is excellent, coming from the well known venue of Potton Hall, Suffolk. If you've been told that Szymanowski's output for violin and piano is a minor part of his oeuvre, this CD will cause you to rethink that.