SKOWRONSKI PLAYS! Franck, Szymanowski, Bacewicz and Saint-Saens (S:CR-04) Vincent P. Skowronski, violin Saori Chiba, Donald Isaak, Neil Penesis, pianists CESAR FRANCK: Sonata in A Major -- Skowronski, violin; Isaak, piano KAROL SZYMANOWSKI: La Fontaine d'Arethuse and Chant du Roxanne -- Skowronski, violin; Chiba, piano GRAZYNA BACEWICZ: Mazurka No. 1 -- Skowronski, violin; Chiba, piano CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS: Sonata No. 1 in D Minor -- Skowronski, violin; Penesis, piano "The performance here by VINCENT P. SKOWRONSKI presents a musician with a highly personal approach to music; the opening movement of the Franck Sonata employs a very fluid tempo, the second is turbulent, and while there is repose in the third movement, it is still a very fiery reading. The intensity continues into the final Allegretto and complements Skowronski's powerful approach." "The Szymanowski and Bacewicz are stunningly performed and derived from LIVE, unedited concert hall performances. Recorded during a LIVE, unedited studio recital for *international radio broadcast, the Saint-Saens receives a similarly stunning presentation as well as a sturdy interpretation. However, it is rather different from the urbane French view held by most violinists --the duo tearing into the first movement. The following Adagio is relaxed and the charming Allegretto leads to a hectic Finale. These are truly spontaneous performances." ----The Strad

"This recording of works by Franck, Bartok, Saint-Saens, Dvorak and Szymanowski, the producers explain, is minimally edited 'to preserve as much as possible the human and artistic qualities of LIVE performance.' The effort is successful and very rewarding. Any listener with a respectable sound-system will feel as if the artists are in the same room with them. But does this company's products stand up against better-known artists? What, for example, may have been an unfair comparision with a Perlman/Ashkenazy recording of the Sonata in A Major by Cesar Franck ultimately left us very impressed, especially with Skowronski. And the recording methods made the Skowronski effort much more satisfying listening." --CHICAGO ARTS magazine