Very sensitive playing, with fine tone and balance, and a notably crisp, clear recording, make this disc a real bargain. The grand forte passages in the Trio’s Andante sound wonderfully full, and the Scherzo is delicate yet vivacious. Altogether, it’s a very poised performance, but I did feel, in the outer movements especially, that the cumulative effect of allowing time for every detail is an impression of carefulness – of not feeling the music’s onward thrust with sufficient intensity. Schiff, Shiokawa and Perenyi (on their two-disc set) adopt pretty much the same tempos, but they convey the music’s passionate character with far more warmth and spontaneity.
There are a lot of advantages in playing the Arpeggione Sonata on the viola. The range of the part does necessitate some musically unsatisfactory upward transposition of the lowest notes, but the bulk of the music lies more naturally for the viola than the cello, and the lighter tone of the smaller instrument makes it possible to give the performance more intimacy. Douglas Paterson is especially successful in the Adagio, as the comfortingly warm expression of the opening leads to an increasing feeling of solitude and sadness. In the more brilliant parts of the outer movements, Paterson plays neatly and with verve, but sometimes lacks fire and spirit. The episode in the finale beginning at 1'17'' is certainly more persuasive in Perenyi’s and Schiff’s more strongly projected performance.
The short song arrangement makes a delightful encore, and, despite reservations, the disc can be confidently recommended.'