The Strauss sonata has been picking up a lot of steam recently…Strauss, while paying unconscious homage to Beethoven and even a little to Brahms, was the ultimate in classical consideration in this work, stretching his development of the motives in the three movements to their logical conclusions, even in the  “improvisation” second movement, the heart of the work. Though a piano sonata and cello sonata came before this piece, it was here that Strauss perfected, as far as he was able to, his use of sonata form. He would abandon it after this composition. The piece has many fine recordings though it is not considered a standard of the repertory by any means. This one is captured in soft, serene surround sound and played perfectly.

The Third Sonata of Enescu, with its folk elements and quarter-tone sounds, is not as easily accessible in terms of sonata form, yet is no less enmeshed in that structure than the Strauss…Enescu revels in genius of the highest order with a work of mystery and darkness, a tone that was to get darker in each explanation for the piece that Enescu offered as the years went by. But underneath this paean to the suffering of his Romanian compatriots always retains a sense of life affirmation, a common thread in all his music.

Our two partners play this one even better, with a lot of wit, substance, and affectingly passionate emotion. 2L captures it all beautifully in some remarkable surround sound. Recommended! © Audiophile Audition Read complete review