Shaham & Shaham on Gil Shaham's Own Label
J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 02/17/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The contents of this CD originally appeared on an Artemis release in 2004. Sergei Prokofiev: Works for Violin and Piano Shortly after it came out violinist Gil Shaham founded his own label, Canary Classics, and it appears that some of his earlier recordings on other labels are now appearing there.
The CD contains the two Prokofiev violin sonatas (one of them originally for flute and piano) in marvelous performances, rather more lyrical than those recorded by Oistrakh or Kremer. There are also the 'Five Melodies, Op. 35' for violin and piano (originally for voice and piano) in spiffy performances by Shaham and his talented pianist sister Orli. The rest of the music here consists of transcriptions by Jascha Heifetz of music, including the familiar March from 'The Love for Three Oranges', originally for other forces.
Sound is fine, performances are superb. There is a terrific extended essay in the CD booklet by Harlow Robinson. An easy recommendation.
Scott Morrison
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