A little while ago, The High Pony Tail posted a very lovely, but neglected, LP of Schubert's Grand Duo that featured the wonderful duo of Gold and Fizdale. Though much celebrated in their day, the recorded legacy that they left behind has sadly languished in the vaults. I greatly enjoyed the Schubert and recently, I was fortunate to come across this record of the two performing Brahms and Debussy.
Brahms' Haydn Variations is just a superbly realized creation and Debussy's "Children's Games" sparkle with an effervescence that only "little ones" can innocently muster. Very different compositions yes, but Gold and Fizdale manage the transitions between the two in a masterful fashion. This is excellent music making by the premier duo of the time. Artists like the Lebecque sisters don't hold a candle to G & F and the former often resort to cheap trickery to get their message across. Gold and Fizdale let the music breathe and fly on its own initiative and this Odyssey reissue was well pressed for a budget offering.
I've included another wonderful duo to round off the program, the husband and wife team of Walter and Beatriz Klien. Walter Klien was a very admired interpreter of Mozart, however, he and his wife make a strong impression in this French program of Debussy, Ravel and Milhaud. I especially like the Scaramouche of Milhaud though the Debussy in the Klien's hands is handled so delicately and with a tender touch. A beautiful program released by Vox.
