The mandolin occupies a small but distinguished place in the classical repertoire: It's an unprepossessing instrument well suited to folk music, but many composers from Vivaldi to Webern have succumbed to its sunny charm (the sound is a result of four double sets of strings tuned exactly like a violin, but plucked with a plectrum). For pop and folk the modern flat-back Gibson-style instrument has become the norm, heard in everything from Bluegrass to The Waterboys (not forgetting REM's "Losing My Religion" of course), whereas the older Neapolitan round-back is the more "classical" model. Here Alison Stephens, one of a highly select band of professional classical mandolin players, gives a recital that ranges from an eccentric duet by Emmanuelle Barbella ("The God Bacchus infuses mirth in a German Woman and induces her to digest her wine by dancing") to two songs by Mozart (though not included is the famous mandolin aria from Don Giovanni, "Deh, vieni alla finestra"). None of the pieces here could ever be called "great" music, but even so it's fascinating to hear Beethoven taking a break from the ineffable heights to write such sympathetic and idiomatic miniatures. Ably accompanied by fellow mandolinist Sue Mossop, singer Poppy Holden and period-instrument specialist Richard Burnett on forte piano, Alison Stephens is an eloquent champion of the classical mandolin. This disc is an ideal companion to her recording of music from Captain Corelli's Mandolin with guitarist Craig Ogden. --Mark Walker
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