Mozart: Violin Sonatas

Years ahead of his time, Mozart pushed the envelope in terms of the relationship between instruments in his duo sonatas. While still technically published as sonatas for keyboard and violin, there can be no mistaking the important role Mozart assigned to the violin, typically tantamount and occasionally more significant than the piano. This Virgin Veritas album takes full advantage of this equality by joining two extraordinarily versatile artists, each of substantial repute: violinist Jaap Schröder and keyboardist (in this case, fortepiano) Lambert Orkis. The two-disc set covers all but one of the early sonatas, K. 301-305, as well as the later, more mature sonatas of K. 454, 481, and 526. Schröder and Orkis take special care to delineate the differences in these two style periods, though they are only separated by a few short years. Orkis even changes instruments for the second disc to add variety and a change of atmosphere. Both musicians play together with seamless accuracy and attention to one another, creating a truly symbiotic chamber music experience. Schröder's playing easily comes to the forefront when called for; actually, there are times when the violin is even a bit too present and very nearly covers the fortepiano. This is especially true in the later sonatas, where Schröder's sound is substantially brighter than in the early sonatas almost to the point of being shrill. Apart from this relatively minor issue of balance, this album is a good choice for listeners looking for a first period recording of these charming sonatas. ~ Mike Brownell, All Music Guide