This 2009 Signum Classics disc Rachmaninov for Violin and Piano is something of a mixed bag. On the positive side is the skillful and soulful violin playing of Hideko Udagawa, whose lean, incisive tone and tight, focused vibrato cut through the thickest textures of the piano accompaniment. Another asset is the masterful piano playing of Konstantin Lifschitz. Not only an admirable accompanist who supports and encourages but never overwhelms his soloist, Lifschitz is a first-class soloist himself, with a clear, ringing tone ...
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This 2009 Signum Classics disc Rachmaninov for Violin and Piano is something of a mixed bag. On the positive side is the skillful and soulful violin playing of Hideko Udagawa, whose lean, incisive tone and tight, focused vibrato cut through the thickest textures of the piano accompaniment. Another asset is the masterful piano playing of Konstantin Lifschitz. Not only an admirable accompanist who supports and encourages but never overwhelms his soloist, Lifschitz is a first-class soloist himself, with a clear, ringing tone and a powerful and impeccable technique. Together, their subtle, strong, and sympathetic performances constitute the disc's greatest strength.A definite minus is the fact that only two of the four short pieces for violin and piano that Rachmaninov wrote early in his career are included here, the Romance in A minor and the Hungarian Dance in D minor. The Romance starts slowly and soulfully and turns sentimental, while the Hungarian Dance is a standard-issue virtuoso display piece in...
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