Canter Bridge

Full product information for this item, together with my review, my ranking of the product, and any reader comments, can be found at http://www.amazon.com.

Rostroprovich and Richter are poster children for the merits of recording the lesser-known works of past masters. It is astonishing to believe that the Beethoven of, say, Symphonies, 3, 7, and 9 also sat himself down to compose small music like these pieces for two amiable but sometimes socially incompatible instruments.

That he did so is testimony to the range of his genius, a profound gift that we are prone to appreciate only for its depth.

The phrasing and coordination that the two R’s bring to this ensemble makes the two instruments play almost as one.

Beethoven would have sat back in his chair, closed his eyes, and allowed himself the hint of an avuncular smile as though to say ‘Now this is what I had in mind … !’