Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonata presents notorious balance problems. Though the composer took care in the Andante to give the two instruments alternating rather than combining roles, beautifully handled on the Maisky disc, the Allegro scherzando can seem cluttered. Where many performances, such as that by Steven Isserlis and Stephen Hough (Hyperion, 7/03), relish the wit in the interplay of the complex lines, Maisky and Tiempo take it not scherzando but seriously, almost darkly, and at a pace that makes no compromises.

With the outer movements, in which Rachmaninov indulges not only his lyrical outpourings but the elaborate piano textures that came naturally to him, Tiempo does well to keep the touch light so as to give Maisky freer rein. The recorded sound is lucid, but matters cannot not have been easy in finding this balance without giving the cello too forward a sound. As fill-ups, Maisky’s transcriptions of songs and piano pieces are excellent, allowing the cellist to indulge to the full his impassioned and eloquent style.

The Sonata has been having a good outing on records: now come Gautier Capuçon and Gabriela Montero who take what is broadly a more lyrical approach, remaining undaunted by the difficulties in the opening movement and keeping the Scherzo light, even amiable. Capuçon’s elegant, singing tone responds especially well to the Andante, with gentle exchanges between the instruments. Perhaps it is this aspect of Rachmaninov that most appeals to him; this is suggested by his choice for fill-ups of not only the Vocalise, originally literally a song without words (for soprano), but the juiciest of the Paganini Variations, where Rachmaninov cleverly turns the lively little theme upside down to make another romantic song without words.

Prokofiev’s Sonata may seem an unusual coupling but it contrasts nicely, with its own latent lyricism and with the cheerful central Moderato that has all the harmonic wit and melodic charm of the composer at his best. The recording by Rostropovich and Richter (Revelation, 6/98 – nla) is likely to prove most people’s first choice, but this is pleasantly done.