Duo dig deep with Schubert

Pieter Wispelwey and Paolo Giacometti's play as one mind on a collection of Schubert pieces, but their performance is let down by a harsh Scherzo

Composer: Schubert
Repertoire: Fantasy in C; ‘Arpeggione’ Sonata, et al.
Artists: Pieter Wispelwey (vlc), Paolo Giacometti (pf)
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Instrumental
Label: Onyx 4046

Old and new rub shoulders in the world-premiere recordings of Wispelwey’s arrangements of two Schubert violin works, plus the ‘Arpeggione’, for gut-stringed cello with fortepiano. Ninety per cent works beautifully, with Schubert’s melancholy eloquence sounding natural on the deeper instrument. The duo between Wispelwey and Giacometti is superb: they play entirely with one mind. Less satisfying are the fits and starts that affect the Duo’s Scherzo, and moments of harsh sound and ropey intonation.