*** Good Album

“… That Waley-Cohen and Watkins have an innate response to one another’s touch is evident in the gentle ebb and flow of the slow movement of Opus 12/1 (its changes of mood wondrously conveyed) or in the catch-me-if-you-can Scherzo from the Spring Sonata which comes with full marks for its homicidal tempo! While their collaboration does much to underline Beethoven’s direction that these are Sonatas for Piano and Violin, the performances are not without powerful individual expression; in the opening bars of Opus 12/1 one can almost hear sparks flying off Waley-Cohen’s bow. There’s a nice balance between the emphatic and the tender as she applies the most delicate brushstrokes for whispered intimacies, poetry yielding to mystery in the brief development where Watkins revels with impish delight in Beethoven’s playful arpeggios. I particularly enjoy the way the players feed off one another in the dancing Finale, its vitality at times combustible but tension-filled too in the dolce episodes…Overall, an impressive addition to the catalogue with excellent sound and an engaging booklet note.” *****

Editor's Choice

"... Waley-Cohen and Watkins demonstrate a fine and modern appreciation for Beethoven the instrumental dramatist ..."