Mark S. Zimmer reviews Piet Koornhof and Albie van Schalkwyk’s Violin Plus One album for MusicWeb International:

“These pieces are given a lovely performance by South African violinist Piet Koornhof, with noted accompanist Albie van Schalkwyk. … Koornhof gives us a moody Tchaikovsky, but not a self-indulgent one. Poème, op.25 by Chausson is a fascinating study in Koornhof’s hands, alternating between the dreamy and the nightmarish, concluding in a series of mesmerizing trills. It’s quite extraordinary. … The middle section of Bloch’s Baal Shem, Nigun, offers an interesting contrast to Massenet, as it revels in an improvisatory manner through the ethnic and exotic, with some truly chilling moments. Koornhof goes with great gusto into this piece, and offers a particularly fine rendition. … The highlight of the disc for me was Bizet’s arrangement of Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, which had initially been intended as the finale for Saint-Saëns’ first violin concerto. Koornhof provides us with a big finish as he offers brazen panache in the Rondo, giving a boldness and vigor to the composition that I’ve often longed for but seldom heard. The recording quality is better than satisfactory. … This is an exceedingly enjoyable hour of violin… highly recommended.”

—Mark S. Zimmer

Full review on MusicWeb International

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