DARIUS MILHAUD (1892-1974): Violin Sonatas No. 1, Op. 3 and No. 2, Op. 40, Printemps for Violin and Piano, Op. 18, Capriccio No. 13 de Paganini for Violin and Piano, Viola Sonatas No. 1, Op. 240 and No. 2, Op. 244, 4 Visages for Viola and Piano, Op. 238.

Description: The first violin sonata dates from his student days at the Paris Conservatoire but is already marked by some of his distinguishing musical fingerprints such as the rhythmic irregularity and indeterminate, ‘floating’ tonality that leave the listener with the impression of being carried through a subtly moving mist of sound. The second was written during Milhaud’s stay in Brazil andmoves freely between sparky neo‐Baroque figuration in the first movement to the finale’s melodic evocation of the composer’s Jewish heritage. The Visages and viola sonatas are wartime works which bely the mood of their times in favor of a little light-hearted relief. Their individual movements are brief, by and large dance‐like in character, often evoking Baroque forms, always exuding charm, though the central Dramatique movement of the second sonata presents a quasi‐operatic confrontation between viola and piano. 2 CDs. Mauro Tortorelli (violin, viola), Angela Meluso (piano).