Sonata for violin & piano No. 22 in A major, K. 305 (K. 293d)
Sonata for violin & piano No. 30 in C major (fragment), K. 403 (K. 385c)
Sonata for violin & piano No. 16 in B flat major, K. 31
Sonata for violin & piano No. 23 in D major, K. 306 (K. 300l)
Violinist Rachel Podger and fortepianist Gary Cooper collaborate again on their fifth volume of Mozart's complete sonatas for keyboard and violin. As in previous volumes, these were conceived of as keyboard sonatas with violin accompaniment. This concept is abundantly clear in the very early Sonata, K. 31, where the violin serves a very meager role, but one that Podger makes as interesting and exciting as anyone could hope for. Tremendous contrast and growth can be seen when comparing K. 31 to K. 305/306 where Mozart's ...
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Violinist Rachel Podger and fortepianist Gary Cooper collaborate again on their fifth volume of Mozart's complete sonatas for keyboard and violin. As in previous volumes, these were conceived of as keyboard sonatas with violin accompaniment. This concept is abundantly clear in the very early Sonata, K. 31, where the violin serves a very meager role, but one that Podger makes as interesting and exciting as anyone could hope for. Tremendous contrast and growth can be seen when comparing K. 31 to K. 305/306 where Mozart's development of the medium leans more and more on the violin as an equal collaborator if not dominant instrument. Podger's playing is electric throughout and not a single note goes by without getting some sort of special attention. Cooper's performance is equally elegant and refined -- save for some boxy-sounding octaves in his instrument's lower range -- and the two musicians play off each other quite well. The only real complaints to be found in this volume (or others, for that matter)...
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