A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC SUITE FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO – Opus Two (Bridge Records – Digital Downloads)
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
A Little Night Music: Suite for Violin and Piano is the third in a series of Broadway arrangements by Eric Stern commissioned by Opus Two. Stern’s earlier arrangements for the duo include unforgettable songs from George Gershwin’s Girl Crazy and Leonard Bernstein’s Candide. In this Sondheim suite like the others, Stern explores the many expressive possibilities of the violin and piano, forging an exquisite partnership that is at once orchestral and intimate, allowing both instruments to sing and dance. This four-movement suite, includes ‘Night Waltz’, ‘You Must Meet My Wife’, ‘A Weekend in the Country’, and ‘Send in the Clowns’
Opus Two is made up of the due William Terwilliger on violin and pianist Andrew Cooperstock. Their repertoire consists of two albums of George Gershwin works and the duo have played extensively across six continents. Recently Cooperstock released a recording Leonard Bernstein: Complete Solo Works for Piano which was critically applauded.
It is short and sweet at a playing length of 14:31 but it only goes to show off Sondheim’s brilliance even when stripped of lyrics.
A must for all Sondheim fans out there – and fans of piano and violin duets!
Nick Wakeham
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