AMANDA MAIER (1853-1894): Violin Concerto in D Minor (Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra; Andreas Stoehr), Piano Quartet in E Minor (Bernt Lysell [viola], Sara Wijk [cello], Ann-Sofi Klingberg [piano]), MAIER/JULIUS ROENTGEN (1855-1932): 6 Swedish Tunes and Dances for Violin and Piano (Klingberg [piano]).

Description: Julius Roentgen’s Swedish wife was quite a violinist and composer in her own right, as her violin sonata has demonstrated in two recordings we’ve offered in the last seven years (10L055 and 10P043). Now we get further confirmation of her talent in this new Swedish-label release which has an appreciation by its producer and separate notes on Maier’s life and on the pieces recorded here along with ten period photos. The 1875 concerto’s final two movements are lost, leaving us a 17-minute movement written while Maier was studying the Beethoven concerto. In her last major work in 1891, we get the full, four-movement format in a 27-minute piano quartet which is full of romantic passion and vigor; the Swedish dances, a colllaboration with Julius are a delicious and substantial 19-minute bonus. Gregory Maytan (violin).