Search - Spaulding :: Art of Violin III: Handel, Tartini, Franck, Etc

Since I was a young record collector, Albert Spalding's recording of Franck's Violin Sonata has been a great favorite. Here it is again, in all its splendor, transferred from 78s for the first time ever. Spalding studied with Eugene Ysaÿe, for whom the Sonata was written. So I think his old- fashioned playing, with slow tempos and lots of sliding between notes, may well represent an authentic interpretation. It's certainly convincing. André Benoist provided his usual strong support here and throughout the disc, which also features other fine performances from 1930s Victor 78s. There's a bit more surface noise than necessary in the transfers, but it's not a serious problem. I hope this disc will help restore Spalding's reputation as one of America's great violinists. --Leslie Gerber