JOHN IRELAND: CHAMBER WORKS

This comprehensive two-disc set, sold for the price of one, contains some of Ireland’s most profound and personal works. On disc one, Lydia Mordkovitch plays the two violin sonatas accompanied by Ian Brown, performances that were awarded three stars by the Penguin Guide when first issued. These are complemented with the Fantasy Sonata for clarinet and piano performed by Gervase de Peyer and Gwenneth Pryor. On the second disc, Lydia Mordkovitch is joined in Ireland’s three piano trios, including the Phantasie Trio in A minor, by Ian Brown and the cellist Karine Georgian, the latter two offering as well the Cello Sonata in G minor and the short The Holy Boy. All these works make a welcome return to the Chandos catalogue.