The
Kodály Duo for Violin & Cello has existed since 1914; in its long existence, it has been performed by countless duos and recorded dozens of times. In its recorded history, few efforts have come close to capturing the same level of Bohemian flare as cellist
Janos Starker and violinist Josef Gingold. While their performance really exemplifies all that this piece has to offer, the present recording of violinist Gil Morgenstern and Darrett Adkins comes excitingly close to capturing the same level of energy, gutturalness, and rhythmic panache. Both of these artists play with unbridled passion with never a sense of holding anything back. Their attacks on each note are almost brutal, yet they never demand more from their instruments than they can deliver. Intonation is superb, articulation is brilliantly matched, and the interplay between the two is seamless. If this was the only piece on the program, this disc would still be worth buying. Fortunately for listeners, there's more. The Duo of Roger Sessions allows Morgenstern and
Adkins another opportunity to demonstrate their total command of their instruments through the much more varied tonal language that Sessions employs. Closing out the album is another cornerstone of the repertoire, the
Ravel Sonate for Violin and Cello. The slight haziness and mysteriousness that Morgenstern and
Adkins add to their sound for this work round out an exceptional and completely worthwhile album.