Recital

The first collaboration on record of long-time recital partners Viktoria Mullova and Katia Labèque. Ranging from the Schubert Fantasy of 1827 to Stravinsky s 1933 Suite Italienne, this fascinating programme spans a tremendously exciting 100 years, in which music changed radically, rapidly and irreversibly. These works demonstrate the massive alterations wrought in those years; the contrast between the Romanticism of Schubert and Clara Schumann, and the innovation of Ravel and Stravinsky. Yet Stravinsky's use of Baroque music and Ravel's appropriation of jazz show that the 20th century embraced diverse influences, including those of the past. Viktoria Mullova and Katia Labèque have played this recital together many times, and, as is clear from this recording, relish each composer's distinctive approach to writing for violin and piano.

"The lovely little romance in D flat by Clara Schumann ending a recital by violinist Viktoria Mullova and pianist Katia Labèque. Such a sympathetic and communicative duo. Wonderfully alive to each other's musical mood swings in Stravinsky's Suite Italienne. Schubert's C major Fantasie has a rare sense of mystery and songlike beauty and the Ravel sonata from them is technically brilliant with excellent blues in the middle…"Outsanding music making." - BBC Radio 3 Record Review

★★★★★ "It's a privilege to eavesdrop on a partnership as sympathetic and communicative as this one…they're wonderfully alive to each other's musical mood-swings and dynamics…technically brilliant" - BBC Music Magazine

★★★★★ "Excellent Stravinsky and Schubert…a hypnotic Ravel. Let's hope the collaboration continues" - Ritmo