Elgar, Finzi, Walton: Works for Violin & Piano

1	Sonata for violin & piano
2	Sonata for violin & piano
3	Sonata for violin & piano
4	Elegy for violin & piano
5	Sonata for Violin & Piano
6	Sonata for Violin & Piano
Elgar, Finzi, Walton: Works for Violin & Piano
1.	Sonata for violin & piano in E minor, Op. 82 26:32
	Composed by Edward Elgar
	Performed by Simon Mulligan and Daniel Hope
2.	Elegy for violin & piano in F major, Op 22: Andante espressivo 8:01
	Composed by Gerald Finzi
	Performed by Simon Mulligan and Daniel Hope
3.	Sonata for violin & piano 27:37
	Composed by William Walton
	Performed by Simon Mulligan and Daniel Hope

Barnes & Noble

At last, Elgar's Violin Sonata (1918) has some high-power advocates. Kennedy, Midori, and Maxim Vengerov are some of the young superstar violinists who have recorded this beautiful yet elusive work. And Daniel Hope's Nimbus recording can stand with the best of them. He has a big, bold, firmly focused sound, yet he can play with breathtaking delicacy -- a necessary quality to make the most of the haunted, haunting slow movement. William Walton's Violin Sonata (1949) is a clever coupling. Walton's music is more cosmopolitan, with an odd kind of lyricism that can sting as well as soothe. Hope emphasizes the music's intimate qualities, aided admirably by pianist Simon Mulligan (although one wishes the piano didn't sound quite so recessed). In between the Elgar and Walton is a sweetly sad Elegy (1940) by Gerald Finzi. This CD is a musical Anglophile's delight -- a recital to savor over and over again. Andrew Farach-Colton

Gramophone

The coupling of the violin sonatas by Elgar and Walton is a most satisfying one, not unique on disc, and one which provides fascinating parallels... With Hope's sweet, finely focused violin tone beautifully caught in the Nimbus recording -- full and warm but less reverberant than some -- and well balanced against the piano, it makes an outstanding recommendation. Edward Greenfield