Daniel Lozakovich: Grieg, Franck, Shostakovich, Shor/Pletnev

The Strad Issue: September 2024

Description: Youth and experience combine with mixed results

Musicians: Daniel Lozakovich (violin) Mikhail Pletnev (piano)

Works: Grieg: Violin Sonata no.3; Peer Gynt – Solveig’s Song. Franck: Violin Sonata. Shostakovich: The Gadfly – Romance. Shor/Pletnev: Violin Sonata

Catalogue number: WARNER CLASSICS 2173228580

Following four discs with DG (to which he signed aged 15), this release is Swedish Wunderkind Daniel Lozakovich’s first with Warner Classics. It’s also his first recording with the distinguished Russian pianist Mikhail Pletnev.

Whether or not due to the 44-year age gap between them, the chemistry isn’t palpable. They do seem to agree, however, on opening the Franck in a mood of lingering reflection that stymies the flow. There’s one other flaw, which is Lozakovich’s quite fast, tense, tonally faltering vibrato when playing tenderly above the middle range. You hear this in ‘Solveig’s Song’ from Grieg’s Peer Gynt, as well as in the slow movement of the same composer’s Sonata no.3. For the Franck and Grieg sonatas, I would opt instead for Renaud Capuçon with Khatia Buniatishvili (Erato), a duo that is more dynamic and compelling.

Actually there is one more criticism, which is the decision to include the Violin Sonata attributed jointly to Alexey Shor (born 1970, a maths prodigy turned composer) and Pletnev. It’s a pleasant enough piece in neo-Romantic/neo-Classical style but there is little to distinguish it expressively.

There’s no doubt that both players are capable individually, and their instruments also sound resplendent, but for me the collaboration is more eclectic than electric.

EDWARD BHESANIA