Catalan Violin Works in Bloomington, MN

Annotator
Ben Hogwood
points out in the notes to this 2024
Naxos
release that the cello, thanks in part to the influence of
Pablo Casals
, was a favored instrument in Catalan chamber music in the 20th century, with the violin being comparatively neglected. Violinists, including
Fritz Kreisler
and
Joseph Szigeti
, have filled in the gaps with arrangements of other music, as here with versions of music by
Enrique Granados
(whose Catalan identity is sometimes underplayed) and
Federico Mompou
.
Kreisler
's is of one of
Granados
'
12 Danzas Españolas
, originally for piano but melodic enough in idiom that they transfer well to the violin. Indeed, several of the transcriptions here are not by the likes of
but are anonymous; the notes identify them as "unidentified," and it might have been nice to know more about how they came to these performers. In any event, violinist
Janna Gandelman
is excellent in these works, with a warm tone that does not foreclose a bit of fire. There are works by
Mompou
; one,
Altitud
, is his only violin-and-piano work, and the other is a song transcription.
Gandelman
and pianist
Laia Martín
shift gears effectively for
's rather minimalist mode. The program also features works by
Gaspar Cassadó
, better known for cello music,
Xavier Montsalvatge
, and a contemporary composer,
Jordi Cervelló
, who squarely fits into the great Catalan tradition. The whole thing is beautifully played and wholly enjoyable, and it contains a good deal of music that will be new to most listeners. ~ James Manheim