ROMANTIC TREASURES
for VIOLIN and PIANO

Sergiu Schwartz, violin
Alec Chien, piano


ANTONIN DVORAK:
Four Romantic Pieces, Op. 75

RICHARD STRAUSS:
Sonata for Violin and Piano in E flat major, Op. 18

CLAUDE DEBUSSY:
La plus que Lente (arr. Jascha Heifetz);
La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin (arr. Arthur Hartmann)

CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS:
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75

This CD, Sergiu Schwartz’s third for Roméo Records (#7220 - Poeme Mystique; #7246 - The Heart of the Violin), is truly a treasure trove of romantic pieces for violin and piano. The major work here, a passionate account of Richard Strauss’s Violin Sonata, is joined by Dvorak’s 4 Romantic Pieces, and Camille Saint-Saens’ Violin Sonata No. 1. The disc is filled out by two rarely heard transcriptions of piano compositions by Debussy, one piece transcribed by Jascha Heifetz, the other by early 20th century violin virtuoso Arthur Hartmann who enjoyed a friendship with Claude Debussy. Sergiu Schwartz’s superb virtuosity is joined to a musicality that invests every work with that special spark that distinguishes any truly great performance.