Stern and Bronfman are in many, perhaps most, respects an excellent team. They play this music in a straightforward, unfussy way and the realistic recording allows the listener to sit in on performances which are not at all glamorized. Indeed, in the violinist's case at least, they offer a few mildly rough edges, but Stern might well say (and I would not disagree) that the violin here should sound truthful rather than merely pretty, and that his sound should have a bite to it as well as sweetness. Time and again, I felt that I was listening to performances that lack lovingly polished detail but are rather the natural utterance of two fine musicians who also work well as a duo. Everything is of a piece, and the features in especially short supply are any kind of self-conscious, winsome rubato or mannered cadential pointing. Try the minuet second movement in the C major Sonata, K303 for a sample. If you like your Mozart to sound pretty, such honest playing may disappoint.
So far, then, praise. But be warned, you may find these performances just a bit too matter-of-fact to sustain interest through five sonatas, not all of which rise to inspiration. On the other hand, you may find that playing Mozart without frills reveals beauties that more intrusive artists unintentionally conceal. In sum, there is room for many approaches to the music of this less than simple genius, and here is a disc of quality that is worth investigating.'