Album: Chopin, Chamber Music – Brantelid / Shirinyan (EMI Classics)

Written shortly after Chopin's arrival in Paris, on themes from Meyerbeer's opera Robert le Diable, the Grand Duo concertant is the odd one out in Andreas Brantelid's recital.

The 1829 Piano Trio and 1846 Cello Sonata are less extrovert works, calling for subtler interplay between musicians and, perhaps, a degree of soulfulness beyond a cellist in his early twenties. Brantelid's half-butch, half-blowsy sound is unforgiving and violinist Frang and pianist Shirinyan have to work around him, the latter shining in Chopin's attention-grabbing introductions.