The works on this album, while joining together to make an enjoyable program, do not seem to have a great deal in common with one another. The liner notes make an attempt to draw similarities, but these are circumstantial and subjective at best. Nevertheless, despite the odd pairing of pieces, violinist
Liza Ferschtman and pianist
Inon Barnatan offer listeners an almost magical listening experience. The placid and serene Op. 96 Sonata of Beethoven is performed with the utmost elegance and attention to detail.
Ferschtman's dynamic range is marvelous and is brilliantly supported by her partner. Intonation is pristine and vibrato is enjoyably understated.
Barnatan's sound achieves the two seemingly contradictory traits of being dark and clear at the same time. His left hand is wonderfully articulate without so much as a trace of being over pedaled. The Schubert D. 934 begins with an undulating and hypnotic cloud of sound produced by the duo. The beautiful lyrical qualities of
Ferschtman's playing are even more apparent here than it was in the Beethoven. The unity of musical vision between these two artists will leave listeners wishing that the liner notes gave some information about them. Many will also be left crossing their fingers for a complete Beethoven cycle by this talented ensemble.