Sergio Ciomei with Fabrizio Cipriani
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
Sonatas for fortepiano and violin Vol.I (the "Palatine" Sonatas)
CANTUS 9602
Review by CB in ”Continuo”

http://www.continuo.com/oct97/revins97.htm#mpzart son 2
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART: Sonatas for fortepiano and violin Vol.I (the "Palatine" Sonatas): in e major KV 304 (KV 300c); in A major KV 305 (KV 293d); in C major KV 303 (KV 293c); in E-flat major KV 302 (KV 293b); in G major KV 301 (KV 293a). Fabrizio Cipriani, violin; Sergio Ciomei, fortepiano. CANTUS CD [DDD] C 9602 Marketplace #7476 -$19.65

Sometimes it doesn’t always pay to go with the "name brand." One would think that the Accent series of the Complete Violin Sonatas (this is the first volume received so far at CONTINUO) would get the automatic Stamp of Approval, thanks to the formidable credentials of Sigiswald Kuijken, but in truth the music-making on this CD left me a little cold. This is partially due to the light, brittle sound of Monsieur Devos’s Stein copy (the fortepiano part in Mozart’s sonatas is as least as important as that of the violin) and the overall cool emotional tone of the playing. Andreas Glatt’s engineering is, as usual, exceedingly realistic, but that alone is not enough to cause me to recommend this disc. Unless, of course, the previous volumes and the ones to come are any better, which seems unlikely.

What a difference between the Accent and Cantus recordings! On the latter, the committed, energetic playing of these two unknown (Italian?) musicians fairly leaps out at the listener from the speakers. Signor Ciomei’s Walter copy by Paul McNulty is ideal for the music, and he plays it with technical surety and conviction. Violinist Cipriani occasionally employs an anachronistic mannerism or two (primarily portamento), but in general he is interpretatively strong and able. The recorded sound is somewhat recessed compared with the Accent CD, but the violin tone is warm and agreeable, and the balance between the two instruments is good. This is one of the first releases from a new Spanish label, and the presentation is unusually rich, with a deluxe slipcase and booklet in five languages, including Spanish. This series bears watching.

C.B.