Although Robert Casadesus primarily made his mark as a pianist, his compositional output merits serious consideration. This release gathers his complete works for violin, which span the years 1927-55. Casadesus’ First Violin Sonata dates from the composer’s 27th year, and the dense polyphony of its outer movements recalls Fauré’s elusive late idiom. The 1941 Second Sonata, though, reveals a more assertive and original compositional voice. Its witty first movement abounds in leaping melodic interplay while the following Allegretto is a snappy samba.
Interestingly, the six-movement 1944 Suite for Two Violins dedicated to the memory of Fauré sounds the least French of all the works on this disc. If anything, the Prelude and Courante recall the dense, churning polyphony found in Michael Tippett’s early works or in Holst’s folk-music-oriented compositions. The Homage à Chausson is a compact and continuous eight-minute work that alternates tersely lyrical sections with rapid, quicksilver ensemble interplay. Fritz Gearhart’s warm, almost-viola-like sonority, rock-solid technical prowess, and unquestionable sympathy for these scores is seconded by John Owings’ supple and authoritative piano work, plus Kathryn Lucktenberg’s bedrock second violin playing in the Suite. Violin fans looking to explore the instrument’s lesser-known repertoire will do well acquiring this beautifully engineered release.
