The corpus of 19th-century Russian music for violin and piano being less than might be supposed, Hideko Udagawa has created this recital on the basis of transcriptions. Most significant is that of Glinka’s Viola Sonata, whose two substantial movements afford ample indication of his early prowess but also creative indolence – there being no finale. Similarly idiomatic is the Andante from Rubinstein’s Viola Sonata, its sophisticated interplay between recitative and arioso in striking contrast to the winsome elegance of the teenage Glazunov’s Sonatina (conceived for piano). Another (re-)discovery is the diptych from Viktor Kosenko (1896-1938), affecting miniatures demonstrably in the lineage of ‘silver age’ Romanticism.

César Cui’s Alla spagnuola attests to the modest charms of a composer the centenary of whose death looks to be passing unnoticed, with Glière’s Romance an assured statement of intent from one whose easy expressiveness was unerringly suited to the Soviet era. Here, as throughout the disc, Udagawa’s unforced eloquence is ideally complemented by Alexander Panfilov’s responsive pianism, not least the poignancy of Glazunov’s Méditation or raptness of the Grande adagio from his ballet Raymonda that ends the recital. For having rounded out the extent of this repertoire, Udagawa places musicians and listeners alike in her debt.