ANTON RUBINSTEIN (1829-1894): Violin Sonatas No. 1 in G, Op. 13, No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 19, No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 98 & No. 4 in D, Op. 19 (Original Cello Sonata No. 1), CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921): Violin Sonatas No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 75 and No. 2 in E Flat, Op. 102, GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN (1681-1767): 12 Fantasias for Solo Violin (Original 1986 Spectrum LP release).

Description: The recording sources are the reason for this ultra-budget price issue. The four Rubinstein sonatas are remastered from an LP (presumably, the original tapes no longer exist); as they are the likely reason to buy this set, I didn't listen to the other recordings. Rubinstein's first two sonatas are early works, from 1851 and 1853, and Mendelssohn is quite plainly the main model. The piano gets more than its share of the music - Rubinstein was a piano virtuoso after all - which is always lyrical, freely flowing and easy on the ear. Not much changed in 1876, when the Third was written. The Fourth carries the opus number of the Cello Sonata No. 1 of 1852; no record I've found admits a violin version of it and there's nothing in the brief notes about any of the four sonatas in particular. 4 CDs for the price of 1. Robert Murray (violin), Daniel Graham (piano - Rubinstein. Original 1976 Musical Heritage Society 2-LP release), Jane Abbott-Kirk (piano - Saint-Saëns. Original 1977 Musical Heritage Society LP release).