ALGERNON ASHTON (1859-1937): Music for Cello and Piano, Vol. 1 - Sonata No. 1 in F, Op. 6, Sonata No. 2 in G, Op. 75, Arioso, Op. 43, 3 Phantasiestücke, Op. 12.

Description: You know how I go on and on about the melodiousness of practically everything by Herzogenberg and Gernsheim and Raff and, lately, Jadassohn? Well, Ashton, having studied under two of the above, absorbed whatever magic they had. These pieces are non-stop, end-to-end, gorgeous. Not forward-looking, not unique, just a damn complete pleasure to listen to. All early pieces, dating from 1880-89, they give the best reason so far to think that we're really missing something given that all five of his symphonies were destroyed by German bombing in 1940. Did you find his piano sonatas on Dutton a bit too "same-y"? Lack of variety in tempo and character? Well, me too; but none of that here, most emphatically!! Evva Mizerska (cello), Emma Abbate (piano).