Locatelli: Caprice in D major Op. 3 No. 23 'Il labirinto armonico' (The Harmonious Labyrinth)

Rohan de Saram was a member of the supreme Arditti Quartet for over twenty years and has also performed as soloist with many of the major international orchestras. His recording of the Berio Sequenzas was rated as one of the ’10 best recordings’ of 2006 by The New York Times. Accompanying Rohan de Saram on the outstanding recording is Preethi de Silva, director of the US early music ensemble Con Gioia.

“There are few of his [de Saram's] generation that have such gifts” Pablo Casals

“De Silva impressed us as a musician of great accomplishment and originality..” The Daily Telegraph

David Oistrakh (1908 – 1974), one of the most famous violin virtuosos of the last century, made many recordings and was the dedicatee of numerous works for violin. Among the many violin virtuosi of the younger generation whom he inspired is Lydia Mordkovitch, one of his star pupils. In this CD she pays tribute to her great teacher.

For Chandos Lydia Mordkovitch has recorded many works famously associated with Oistrakh, including violin concertos by Khachaturian and Shostakovich, all of which were written for him. Her recording of Shostakovich’s two concertos won a Gramophone Award in 1990. Indeed, her style of playing has many of the hall marks of Oistrakh’s: incredible virtuosity, rich colouring, and above all a passion which is totally Russian in spirit.

In this collection Lydia Mordkovitch brings together pieces with which Oistrakh was associated. The programme ranges widely, from newly recorded music by Pietro Locatelli to a classic version of Chausson’s gorgeous Poème. Of course, Shostakovich is represented – a composer very closely associated with Oistrakh – Lydia Mordkovitch giving his Violin Sonata a superbly nuanced performance, plumbing real depths of feeling without any sentimentality. Rachmaninov has to be included too and Daises is a particularly lovely piece of music. Oistrakh gave sparkling performances of the technically challenging music of Ysaÿe, and Lydia Mordkovitch here proves that she can meet the challenges with equal brilliance.

The reissue of this unique collection of chamber music masterpieces, ranging from Baroque to 20-century, played by the legendary David Oistrakh, with his luminous, sonorous and deeply moving tone.

Partners include Sviatoslav Richter, Lev Oborin, Alexander Goldenweiser and Vladimir Yampolski. With his supreme technique, enormous precision in rhythm as well as extensive variety in sound, David Oistrakh is one of the most celebrated violinists of the 20th century.

This 10-CD release details some of his best chamber music recordings and is filled to the brim with first-rate performances. The compilation effectively documents the development of violin music, simultaneously revealing Oistrakh’s mastering of an extensive repertoire.

Beginning with J.S. Bach, who was one of the first composers to write for the instrument independently and whose works are given an overtly romantic appraisal by the Russian maestro, it also traverses a series of Classical compositions – including Mozart’s Sonata No.3 K306 and Beethoven’s ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata Op.47. Most of the collection’s space, however, is taken up by a large assortment of 19th- and 20th-century music; this is undoubtedly where Oistrakh’s heart lies, and the violinist shows a strong commitment to pieces from his native country.

What is particularly evident from this release is that no matter how big or small, famous or little-known, each work is treated as a masterpiece. With largely forgotten names such as Catoire and Vladigerov sitting alongside some of the greatest composers in musical history, the compilation represents a musical feast that is not to be passed up.