Growing up in his native Dublin in the 1850s and '60s, Stanford was no stranger to high-quality chamber music, even if the visits to Ireland’s capital by pre-eminent executants of the genre were sporadic. As a teenager he recalled with some affection and excitement the solo recitals of Anton Rubinstein, Sigismond Thalberg and Charles Hallé, and string players such as Camillo Sivori, Ludwig Straus, Henry Vieuxtemps, Alfredo Piatti and, of course, Joseph Joachim, a friend of his father.

Hearing Joachim play Beethoven’s ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata and unaccompanied Bach at semi-private concerts left a deep impression on Stanford (himself a budding violinist), as did Joachim’s appearances as the leader of Levey’s (his tutor’s) quartet. As a result of these formative experiences, Stanford became a devotee of chamber music.

The pieces performed here were all written between 1877 and 1905, giving a clear overview of the music Stanford wrote for violin and piano. They include the unpublished Sonata No.2 in A major, Op.70.

‘Music of great charm. Fine advocates of Stanford’s musical riches’ - BBC Music Magazine

‘An exemplary alliance. Not only is their playing consummately refined and joyously articulate, they bring plenty of panache and dedication to this immensely attractive repertoire. The engineering is vividly truthful and Jeremy Dibble’s booklet essay is a masterclass in itself. Recommended without reservation’ - Gramophone

[from CDA67024]