Francesca dePasquale is refreshing. She has been applauded for her “sincerity, intensity, and individual voice” (Philadelphia Inquirer) and praised for her “immaculate and discreet phrasing” (Strad Magazine). Well deserved accolades, in my opinion. Her playing is technically precise, but with a warmth that sucks one into a deeper relationship the music she shares.

Together, Takács and dePasquale deliver some of the most welcome performances of these Opus 30 sonatas that I can recall hearing. Not flashy—thankfully. They are authentic, gracious, and engaging.

The recording is nicely balanced, with excellent detail and a natural acoustic—with just enough distance to allow the two performers to truly sound like they share the same acoustic space and the sound of their instruments to interact naturally.

by Rush Paul, NativeDSD