Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | English | Violin Sonata no. 8 in G major, Op.30 no.3

From Beethoven's “Ghost” Piano Trio to Schumann’s song cycle, Frauenliebe und -leben, an eclectic programme at the Martha Argerich Festival. 

James Ehnes and Andrew Armstrong conclude their exploration of the ten Beethoven violin sonatas.

The duo shines in sunny Beethoven, cool Prokofiev and over-ripe Franck.

Martha Argerich hadn't played Chopin's Third Piano Sonata in public for at least 25 years... so this performance at the Laeiszhalle Hamburg came as a huge surprise.

From the moment Ehnes trilled the G major Op.96 into existence, he and Armstrong achieved the musical transparency that results from using fortepianos with leather hammers and gut strings, and only with great care and commitment when using modern instruments.

The Winspear Opera House in Dallas hosted violinist Itzhak Perlman for the penultimate performance on this season’s recital series, performing sonatas by Beethoven, Franck and Debussy. 

Capturing the feistiness and humour of these sonatas perfectly, Catherine Leonard and Hugh Tinney give a revealing and outstanding performance of three Beethoven Violin Sonatas. 

With musicians of this caliber, it is the soul of the music that matters not the mathematics, and Martha Argerich and Gidon Kremer were nothing if not soulmates in this Istanbul recital.