Sergey Bortkiewicz
(1877-1952)
Violin Sonata in G minor, Op. 26 (1924)
Suite for Violin & Piano, Op. 63 (1946)
2 Pieces "Im 3/4 Takt", Op. 48 #2,5 (1935)
Berceuse, Op. 15 #4 (1914)
Rachmaninoff: Morceaux de Salon, Op. 6
Cristian Persinaru, violin
Nils Franke, piano
Warner Apex 2564-61990-2
Bortkiewicz was a pianist-composer in the tradition of Rachmaninoff, his contemporary. But unlike Rachmaninoff, he always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. As a Russian, he was sent from Austria to Ukraine during WW I and he was in Berlin just in time for Hitler.
Bortkiewicz's Sonata for Violin and Piano is a testament to yearning. The melodies are beautiful, the piano accompaniment is restless and passionate, and it is Russian through and through. Even the final movement (marked Allegro) is folk-like and energetic, yet wistful. If you love Rachmaninoff, you will certainly love this work.
The other pieces on this disc are lighter, salon pieces but are also very beautiful, sentimental remnants of a bygone era. The two short Rachmaninoff pieces are the only pieces he scored origianlly for violin and piano.
