Bach - Busoni - Beethoven: Violin Sonatas

It’s a gift to hear the great pianist András Schiff perform as a chamber musician. And, as expected, he and Shiokawa work in glorious tandem. Their Bach is radiant, contrapuntal voices carefully considered, the charming second movement allegro a trio sonata of sublime proportions. The Busoni is a dark, mysterious work, yet these two musicians shine a way through its depths with playing of utter clarity that still maintains its sense of Romantic abandon. Perhaps the highlight, however, is the sublime adagio from Beethoven’s Sonata no. 10—six minutes of unalloyed rapture.