Violinist
Frank Stadler and pianist
Luís Magalhães join forces on this Two Pianists Records disc for an enticingly varied program of works by three composers of a highly critical nature. The program opens with
Janácek's Violin Sonata, actually his third and final contribution to the genre but the only one the composer did not destroy out of fears the first two were not worthy of performance.
Schumann's D minor Violin Sonata was composed immediately after the first sonata as
Schumann felt his first attempt was insufficient. Finally,
Schubert's C major Fantasie, a piece that characteristically focuses greatly on virtuosic pyrotechnics, was given a frigid reception at its premiere and remained unpublished until after the composer's death.
Stadler and
Magalhães bring vibrant, exciting playing to the stage for all three works. What's most impressive is the different characters, colors, and sensibilities that the duo presents for each different work on the program. Here is a duo that is not merely performing three varied compositions, but rather understands the different nature, historical and emotional backgrounds of all three pieces, and presents them to their listeners in an enjoyable, captivating way. Both artists possess polished, refined technique that allows their effortless playing to focus on musical decisions, infusing their performances with playfulness, brooding, tempestuousness, and bravura as the need arises.