There's a real sense of excitement running through these period-instrument Beethoven performances. Perhaps it comes from the fact that the performers came together after several months of pandemic isolation in 2020, or perhaps from the vigor with which violinist Isabelle Faust and pianist Alexander Melnikov applied themselves to the transferring of their distinctive duo partnership to a larger canvas after the release of their complete cycle of Mozart piano-and-violin sonatas. Whatever the case, the results are splendid. ...
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There's a real sense of excitement running through these period-instrument Beethoven performances. Perhaps it comes from the fact that the performers came together after several months of pandemic isolation in 2020, or perhaps from the vigor with which violinist Isabelle Faust and pianist Alexander Melnikov applied themselves to the transferring of their distinctive duo partnership to a larger canvas after the release of their complete cycle of Mozart piano-and-violin sonatas. Whatever the case, the results are splendid. Historically oriented performances of the Beethoven Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56, are not common, and this one does much to bring out the work's essential qualities. The gentle gut strings of Faust's violin and the agility of Melnikov's Walter fortepiano copy remove the work from the monumental Beethoven C-major realm modern instrument players tend to give it and restores the humor in the work that is often lost. Even better is the trio arrangement of the Symphony No. 2 in D...
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