CHOPIN: Etudes, Op. 10. Barcarolle, Op. 60. Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35 "Funeral March."
Nelson Freire, pianist
DECCA SACD 4756617 (5 channel) TT: 57:03

RACHMANINOFF: Moments musicaux, Op. 16. Morceau de fantaisie, Op. 3. Fragments. Prelude, Op. posth. Zdes' khorosho, Op. 21, No. 7 (trans. Anon). Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14 (trans. Kocsis)
Vladimir Ashkenazy, pianist
DECCA SACD 4756198 (5 channel) TT:

MOZART: Sonata in F, K. 377. Sonata in C, K. 303. Sonata in E minor, K. 304. Sonata in A, K. 526.
Mitsuko Uchida, pianist; Mark Steinberg , violinist
PHILIPS SACD 475 56200 (5 channel) TT: 70:36

Decca's Nelson Freire Chopin and Vladimir Ashkenazy's Rachmaninoff disks were reviewed earlier this year on this site when issued on regular CD (Chopin) (Rachmaninoff ). Now we have the SACD versions which perhaps are a bit fuller in sound than the CD counterparts but, as often mentioned on this site, multi-channel sound is not a requisite for superb reproduction of solo piano.

The collection of four of Mozart's sonatas for piano and violin is a constant pleasure. Violinst Mark Steinberg and pianist Mitsuko Uchida have been performing this music for a dozen years and on this disk we share their "great joy in making music dancing around a common center, in the quicksilver sensitivity of combining thoughts and sounds." This are elegant performances of delectable miniature masterpieces, beautifully recorded June 28-July 1, 2004 in the warm acoustics of the Snape Maltings Concert Hall.

R.E.B. (September 2005)

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