DIAPASON
France

ROSSINI Six Sonatas for Strings (CLAVES CD 50-9222)
Never in the history of recording has there been such precision of tempi, of atmosphere, of phrasing, of musical argument in an orchestral version of the Sonate a quattro, those brilliant but innocently fresh "youthful indiscretions" flung white-hot onto paper by a twelve year old Rossini. Rachlevsky's sumptuous Russian virtuosi unite clarity, precision, and detailed finesse with a bite entirely free of any dryness. Phrases are molded with staggering beauty. The perfectly blended sound utterly captivates. Even the double bass, in all or almost all other versions dull and elephantine at worst, strong but boorish at best, here sings with easy nonchalance, a carefree mastodon touched by grace. The instrumental perfection of the Zagreb Soloists is equaled if not surpassed. This must be the definitive version. I will wager these Russians are not yet done astonishing us.