Mendelssohn’s violin sonatas are still surprisingly unfamiliar. The fine work of 1838 was unaccountably unknown until Yehudi Menuhin published an edition in 1953. The Op 4 Sonata‚ (maybe known to some readers from the BBC Radio 4 Sherlock Holmes series)‚ is a fascinating example of Mendel­ssohn’s precocity. And the little Sonata of 1820 belongs to his period of study with Zelter; its echoes of Haydn and Beethoven are charming‚ and the witty finale fascinatingly predicts that of the 1838 Sonata. On this disc‚ the Nomos Duo also include five shorter student pieces – three of them demonstrate‚ at a very early stage in Mendelssohn’s career‚ an ability to write totally convincing Bachian counterpoint. The performances of these early pieces have a suitably light touch‚ the two instruments beautifully integrated in rhythm and sound quality. Zivoni and Goldstone are more solid in the 1820 Sonata’s first movement‚ making an extra repeat which the Nomos Duo omit‚ and giving the music a more serious stature. And they’re better at capturing the intense‚ elevated tone of the 1838 Sonata’s opening allegro‚ with bolder expression in the piano and a heart­on­sleeve approach that is just what is needed for Mendelssohn in his ardently romantic mood. Elsewhere‚ though‚ Milton and Grímsdóttir are to be preferred – for the airy brilliance of this sonata’s finale‚ and for the splendidly broad phrasing of the operatic melodies in Op 4’s adagio. Occasional top notes in the violin come over as slightly sharp‚ but otherwise the CD is of high quality. It’s certainly a good place to begin exploring some less well­known Mendelssohn.