GENRE; Classical
RELEASE DATE; 12 September, 2025
RATING; 4/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Viktoria Mullova and Alasdair Beatson’s Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Nos. 2 & 10 is an inviting, thoughtfully coloured exploration of two less-often heard masterpieces — performed with period-minded authenticity and an obvious sense of joy. From the bright, fleet-footed Allegro of Op.12 No.2 to the gentle, reflective moods of Op.96, the duo balance clarity of texture with an expressive spontaneity that keeps Beethoven’s early and middle-period language sounding fresh rather than archival.
A defining feature of the recording is its instrumentation. Mullova plays a 1750 Guadagnini with gut strings (using a classical bow), while Beatson switches between faithful Paul McNulty copies — an 1805 Walter for Op.12 No.2 and an 1819 Graf for Op.96 — choices that sharpen the contrasts between violin and fortepiano and open up period colours without sacrificing projection. The result is an intimate sound-world where inner voices and harmonic pivots register with uncommon transparency.
Musically, Mullova’s tone is at once cantabile and agile: her phrasing leans into dance-like rhythms and rhetorical pauses, and she isn’t afraid of using tasteful vibrato for warmth. Beatson complements this with fortepiano articulation that ranges from percussive bite to lyrical support; his left-hand bass lines often add a mischievous, conversational heft that propels the performances. Together they avoid both stodginess and affectation — the playing feels lived-in.
If there’s a minor caveat, occasional small rhythmic nips and historically inflected articulations may read as slightly mannered to listeners expecting full-modern vibrancy; yet for those curious about historically informed immediacy, this album offers thoughtful insight and genuine musical personality. The release is widely available on streaming services and physical formats.