Composer: Luciano Berio / Edison Denisov
Performers: Alexander Bulov and Ilya Gringolts (violins)
Record Label: BIS
Number: -CD-1047 (DDD)
Duration: [57.21]

This CD providently brings together two significant compositions for two violins: Luciano Berio’s “Duets” and Edison Denisov’s “Sonata.” Notwithstanding their contrastive approach and tonality, both are staples of the twentieth-century violin repertoire, performatively navigated by Alexander Bulov and Ilya Gringolts.

Commencing with the Duets by Berio, the twelve pieces demonstrate an insightful mingling of tradition and innovation. Each individually dedicated to a fellow composer, Berio’s Duets brilliantly embrace a kaleidoscope of idioms and narrative styles. Bulov and Gringolts, through their complimentary blend of dynamism and contemplation, manage to outline each duet’s unique characteristic while maintaining an overarching sense of cohesion. Their flexibility and mutual sensitivity evoke richness and depth, bringing to light the embedded dialogical quality within the score.

Moving on to Denisov’s Sonata for Two Violins, one ventures into a more abstract, less traditionally structured musical landscape. Fringed with elements of spectralism, Denisov’s Sonata explores a tonal palette that is both dissonant and eloquent. The interplay between the two violins is case hardened, with moments of dramatic confrontation followed by sequences of profound introspection. Bulov and Gringolts adeptly manoeuvre these shifts, presenting an interpretation marked by both potent emotionality and inventively disjunct syntax.

The BIS label continues its laudable tradition of high-quality sound recording. The subtlest nuances of the violin’s tone and texture– the frisson of bow hairs on string, the percussive pizzicato, the shimmering harmonics– are excellently captured, contributing to a vibrant, immersive listening experience.

For admirers of innovative violin music or those looking to explore beyond the known realm, this release would be a commendable acquisition. Bulov and Gringolts, through their intense engagement and compelling presentation, offer renewed perspectives on these significant works, revealing the enigmatic beauty contained within their complex, seemingly austere structures.