There's certainly no shortage of albums touting a program of "Russian Works for Violin." Indeed, there is an abundance of literature that fits this description. This Chandos album augments the possibilities by including Russian works for viola as well as the violin; this still includes a great deal of well-known repertoire. However, the repertoire chosen by violinist/violist
Lydia Mordkovitch takes things in an entirely different direction. Her selections include less frequently performed works by the great composers (
Prokofiev's Five Pieces from "Cinderella" and Kabalevsky's Improvisation), as well as pieces by very unfamiliar names (
André Volkonsky and Ivan Khandoshkin). The Khandoshkin Violin Sonata in G minor may be the most unexpected work on the disc, offering a very rare glimpse of Russian music from the late-Baroque/early-Classical period. On the violin,
Mordkovitch's technique is rather stunning, dashing about the fingerboard of her Stradavari violin with the utmost of ease and precision of intonation. Her viola playing, heard in the premiere recording of
Volkonsky's Viola Sonata, is strong but seemingly less secure and effortless as her violin playing. On both instruments, however,
Mordkovitch's right arm is extraordinarily harsh and vertical. There are certainly moments in the program when such an approach would be merited, but the abrasive, angular sound that is produced permeates virtually every measure. This consistent level of aggressiveness in
Mordkovitch's playing quickly wears on listeners, especially, as in the Khandoshkin sonata, where a lighter more elegant touch is called for. As a tool for exposure to new literature, or as a demonstration of superior left-hand technique, this album is a wise choice; for an example of a fluid right arm and beauty of tone, it is less than ideal.