Franck, Debussy & Ravel - Violin Sonatas
Pike; Roscoe
Chandos CHAN10667

Release date April 2011

Violinist Jennifer Pike shot to public notice in 2002 when she became the youngest-ever winner of the Young Musician of the Year with a performance of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. Thankfully her career as a musician has been allowed to mature naturally and she has only recently signed her first recording contract, a three-year deal with Chandos. Her first recital disc is testament to this maturity with a beguiling programme of French violin sonatas. Debussy’s Sonata opens the recital and it is immediately obvious that Pike revels in the impressionist style. She adapts her tone to suit the varying colours, and the two instruments meld together seamlessly in a thoroughly captivating performance. The mood continues into the Ravel which begins in a brooding style that soon gives way to his more humorous nature. The middle movement, Blues, complete with striding bass in the piano and glissandi in the violin part, develops into an almost grotesque pastiche offset with a typically wry throw-away finish. The final movement Perpetuum mobile, Allegro is despatched with equal measures of flawless intricacy and fiery passion from both musicians. Franck’s Violin Sonata has never been a favourite work of mine, though I must confess that this performance has turned me on to it more than others I’ve heard. Pike and Roscoe treat us to an appropriately measured yet entirely musical performance. The first movement moves at a pace that allows for plenty of wistful inflection. The second, in spite of its churning piano accompaniment and dramatic changes of tempi, gels well and there is great clarity in both parts. I was also very taken with their approach to the final movement, which is easy to over-do. Here, Pike’s intelligent approach is shown off to the full - it’s performed with zeal but never to the detriment of her astounding musicianship.

Reviewed by Dawn Gibson