A Romantic coupling proves a little too restrained
The Strad Issue: May 2025
Description: A Romantic coupling proves a little too restrained
Musicians: Liya Petrova (violin) Alexandre Kantorow (piano) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Duncan Ward
Works: Korngold: Violin Concerto. Strauss: Violin Sonata
Catalogue number: MIRARE MIR690
This release from Bulgarian-born Liya Petrova mirrors the concerto–sonata pairing of its predecessor, coupling Walton’s Violin Concerto with Respighi’s Violin Sonata.
Aptly for a concerto conceived with melody at its core (Korngold said he needed a ‘Caruso of the violin’ rather than a Paganini), Petrova weaves rich lines and soars effortlessly with plenty of headroom – boldness that clearly stems from a dependable technique. Her tone is vibrant but listeners who yearn for maximum emotionalism might turn elsewhere; here, pliability and portamento are kept within tasteful limits.
For my taste, Petrova could draw more mystery from Korngold’s other-worldly chromaticism but otherwise it’s hard to quibble. The RPO is a strong partner – not least in the sunny, energetic hoedown-like finale (whose Hollywood-esque horn call theme Korngold lifted from his film score for The Prince and the Pauper) and the recording balance points up delightful colouristic touches, for example from celesta, harp and xylophone.
Strauss’s sonata is full-blooded in the outer movements, where it takes on a grand sweep, while in the Adagio cantabile Petrova is just on the beautiful side of bittersweet. Alexandre Kantorow navigates the fistfuls of notes, especially in the finale, with heroism and – more importantly – to heroic effect.
EDWARD BHESANIA
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