Gypsic is a recital disc with a difference. Sarah Nemtanu has been established for some years as leader of the Orchestre National de France, yet this is her first solo recording. The CD brings together arrangements of familiar works in the violin repertoire (Ravel’s Blues from the Violin Sonata and Monti’s Czárdás to name but two). Nemtanu’s words of warning at the start of her notes could be equally applicable here: 'Purist friends, please don’t read what follows.' The arrangements take the works into a world somewhere between that of traditional gypsy and jazz. Gypsic comes across as an excuse for Nemtanu to get unashamedly in touch with her roots; she is very clear that the pieces were chosen specifically to reflect her 'double identity' (French and Romanian). The mainstay of the recital is Enesco’s Violin Sonata no. 3. The sonata, based on popular Romanian themes leaves no doubt as to Nemtanu’s virtuosity, showing off the variety and richness of her tone. Pianist and percussionist Chilly Gonzales both accompanies Nemtanu and is behind the arrangements. Of these, my ears required the most persuasion with Gonzales’ version of Ravel’s Blues. Refering to this, Nemtanu says, 'our interpretation was inspired by rhythmic ethio-jazz (a blend of jazz and the traditional music of Ethiopian azmari minstrels)'. To my mind, this approach has worked. The Ravel (and others) have been treated with the utmost respect, yet allowing performer and listener alike to have a little fun – as the sleeve-notes so elegantly explain: 'this is only a bit of fancy dress'.

Reviewed by Ruth Squire