Eugène Ysaÿe: Works for Violin and Piano, Vol. 1

While the solo violin works by Eugène Ysaÿe have become some of the most played pieces of their genre, his music for violin and piano remains almost unknown to this day. Demetrios Poyzoides and his sister Janna present the ballads and “Poèmes” on this double-CD album, thus showing that the great violin virtuoso and master of instrumental witchcraft also has a lyrical, almost sentimental facet to his musical personality. Even in the so-called “small” form (there are no sonatas or other cyclic works) it becomes apparent that Eugène Ysaÿe, the violinist, must not be underestimated as a composer.