Violinist Michael Barenboim makes his second appearance on Linn, this time with pianist and partner Natalia Pegarkova-Barenboim. Together they have recorded some of Mendelssohn’s beloved Songs without Words. Beginning their life as a musical game between Mendelssohn and his older sister Fanny Hensel, these songs were arranged into piano pieces to pass the time during their childhood. The album showcases a selection arranged for violin by violinist and composer Ferdinand David. Hardly known today, David was to become a close friend of Felix and the dedicatee of his famous Violin Concerto Op. 64. These arrangements always remain true to Mendelssohn’s musical aesthetic, and their intimate character calls for a closely shared musicianship, undoubtedly a distinctive quality which the duo has aplenty.
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Reviews
Performance *** Recording ****
“… Barenboim is well-partnered by Pergarkova-Barenboim, making a seamless and affectionate duo …”
Jessica Duchen – BBC Music magazine – May 2024
“…These are performances we can admire without reservations and they make for compulsive listening,”
Adrian Edwards – Gramophone magazine – April 2024
The Strad Recommends
“Empathetic arrangements and warm musicianship make this a must-hear… Programming, performance, engineering: every facet of this album is a delight.”
Peter Quantrill – The Strad – April 2024
Pizzicato Supersonic
“It rarely happens, but I have to say that I like Ferdinand David’s transcription of Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words better than the original. These wonderful pieces gain in expressiveness and musical color through the playing of Natalia Pegarkova-Barenboim and Michael Barenboim. Monologues become dialogues, and they are so natural and lively that they not only remain true to Mendelssohn’s concept, but also expand it expressively…”
Alain Steffen – Pizzicato.lu – 10 March 2024
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