Ruggiero Ricci has enjoyed a varied and colourful discography on Decca and these recordings, are, apart from Prokofiev’s Second Violin Sonata, all comprised of music for solo violin. The Bach pieces date from the 1957 London sessions and the 20th-century pieces were recorded three years later at Victoria Hall in Geneva. Tully Potter’s perceptive liner notes include material from an interview with the violinist who offers an interesting perspective on recording venues as well as correcting an error in the Decca discographical information about the recording of the Prokofiev Second Violin Sonata with Bussotti which was recorded at his home in New Jersey. It makes its first release on CD, while several of the solo works are released internationally on CD for the first time.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001
Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004
BELA BARTÓK
Sonata for Solo Violin, Sz. 117
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Elegie for solo violin
PAUL HINDEMITH
Sonata, Op. 31 No. 1
Sonata, Op. 31 No. 2
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Sonata for solo violin
Sonata for violin & piano No. 2
Ruggiero Ricci, violin
[Prokofiev] ‘Ricci’s intonation is faultless throughout (which is more than can be said of many fiddlers), his tone is sweet and warm, and his technique carries him without a qualm over the most taxing difficulties… [His] elegance stands him in good stead in the Prokofiev, where his partner at the piano also distinguishes himself by some most artistic leggiero playing. The toy-like Scherzo could scarcely be bettered by any other violin-and-piano team.’ Gramophone