The King - Harpe Royale - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

After their album devoted to the Sonatas of Grieg, the Latvian violinist Vineta Sareika and the French pianist Amandine Savary tackle Mozart for their second recording. In three sonatas of markedly different characters, the two former partners of the Trio Dali have retained their perfect harmony for performing and indeed producing a major version of these works. If the first sonata on this album, the Sonata K. 376, has no great formal originality, the dialogue between the violin and the piano is intensely varied and overall the work develops both charm and considerable tranquillity. Dating from the same year, the Sonata K. 379 was composed very rapidly; Mozart asserts he wrote it in an hour, without having the time to write down on paper the piano part that he performed from memory at it's first performance the next day. Despite these unusual circumstances, it is one of the most beautiful and original of his works for piano and violin. Composed a few days after the Little Night Music, the Sonata K. 526 is one of his most dazzling compositions, with big movements in exceptionally quick tempi; there reigns here the permanent impression that the composer is delighting in his natural mastery of counterpoint and his art, uniquely so. Vineta Sareika and Amandine Savary demonstrate once again a sublime, jubilant feeling for chamber music. As for their preceding collaboration InchThe symbiosis is perfect between two musicians. The vital, solar violin of Sareika is answered by the expressive, structured piano playing of Savary.Inch

Following our success with the mid-price Crown reissues by B.B. King and Howling Wolf, Ace Records presents the classic Elmore James Crown LP with bonus tracks. The original 1960 , with the foxiest of covers, introduced Elmore James's intense vocals and slide guitar to legions of young blues fans everywhere. He is now venerated as one of the greatest bluesmen of all time. The eight bonus tracks feature three singles relevant to the LP, with the other five cuts coming from the top-class Chicago sessions. Of particular note is the stand-out piano work of the wonderful Little Johnny Jones. 2005.

Andrew Lawrence-King and the Harp Consort are quickly becoming today's leading performers of traditional European music. Their debut album, Spanish Dances, was a huge success, setting the stage for this dynamic ensemble to present the works of Carolan (a.k.a. Toirhealbhach O'Cearbhallain, regarded as the champion of Irish traditional music) in a completely unique and unprecedented way.