NIKOLAI MEDTNER (1880-1951): Complete Works for Violin and Piano, Vol. 1 - Sonata No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 57 "Epic", 3 Nocturnes, Op. 16, Fairy Tale in B Flat Minor, Op. 20/1 (arr.Jascha Heifetz [1901-1987]).

Description: The massive, four-movement sonata (over 46 minutes) from 1938 is distinctly Russian with its references to folk music and Orthodox chant and has a bleak slow movement which likely reflects Medtner's bitter acceptance of permanent exile from his homeland. The Nocturnes date from 1907 and come right between two German-language song cycles to Goethe texts where they certainly belong since they are in fact a "song without words" setting of that poet's Nachtgesang. Laurence Kayaleh (violin), Paul Stewart (piano).