Album

Violinist Simone Lamsma cleaned up at a number of international violin competitions in the early 2000s. Yet this recording does not seem to be a representative sample of the musical and technical skills she must possess. Her choice of literature may have some impact on her performance. The Elgar Violin Sonata is simply not one of the composer's strongest works, nor is it one of the crowning jewels in the violin's extensive repertoire. Lamsma, in an attempt to infuse the piece with more life than it has, seems to greatly sacrifice her sound quality. It often comes across as forced, thin, and strident. Her intonation also seems to suffer occasionally, at times seeming quite sharp. She does, however, possess an impressive up-bow spiccato.

The set of 11 miniatures are slightly more interesting than the sonata, especially since many of them are so rarely heard. Still, none of them represent a highlight of Elgar's oeuvre. It would be curious to hear Lamsma performing a more varied and interesting program to see if that might impact her performance.

© Mike D. Brownell, All Music Guide

CD 1
Sir Edward Elgar Composer Violin Sonata in E-, Op.82 Work 23:33 Simone Lamsma Violin, Yurie Miura Piano
1	1.Allegro	8:02			$1.49
2	2.Romance: Andante	7:23			$1.49
3	3.Allegro non troppo	8:08			$1.49
Sir Edward Elgar Composer Romance for Violin and Piano in C-, Op.1 Work Simone Lamsma Violin, Yurie Miura Piano
4	Romance for Violin and Piano in C-, Op.1	4:29			$0.99
Sir Edward Elgar Composer 2 Pieces, Op.13 Work Simone Lamsma Violin, Yurie Miura Piano
5	2.Bizarrerie	2:14			$0.99
Sir Edward Elgar Composer 3 Pieces, Op.4 Work Simone Lamsma Violin, Yurie Miura Piano
6	2.Pastourelle	2:55			$0.99
Sir Edward Elgar Composer La Capricieuse, Op.17 Work Simone Lamsma Violin, Yurie Miura Piano
7	La Capricieuse, Op.17	4:05			$0.99
Sir Edward Elgar Composer 3 Pieces, Op.4 Work Simone Lamsma Violin, Yurie Miura Piano
8	3.Virelai	2:07			$0.99
Sir Edward Elgar Composer 3 Characteristic Pieces, Op.10...3 Characteristic Pieces, Op.10 (arr. violin and piano) Work Simone Lamsma Violin, Yurie Miura Piano
9	1.Mazurka	2:32			$0.99
Sir Edward Elgar Composer 3 Pieces, Op.4 Work Simone Lamsma Violin, Yurie Miura Piano
10	1.Idyll	2:51			$0.99
Sir Edward Elgar Composer 2 Pieces, Op.15 Work 6:34 Simone Lamsma Violin, Yurie Miura Piano
11	1.Chanson de nuit	3:57			$0.99
12	2.Chanson de matin	2:37			$0.99
Sir Edward Elgar Composer Salut d'amour (Liebesgrüss), Op.12 Work Simone Lamsma Violin, Yurie Miura Piano
13	Salut d'amour (Liebesgrüss), Op.12 (arr.violin and piano)	2:36			$0.99
Sir Edward Elgar Composer Sursum Corda (Elévation), for brass, organ, strings and 2 timpani in Bb, Op.11...Sursum Corda (Elévation), for brass, organ, strings and 2 timpani in Bb, Op.11 (arr. violin and piano) Work Simone Lamsma Violin, Yurie Miura Piano
14	Offertoire: Andante religioso (arr. violin and piano)	4:19			$0.99