The Czech-born Eduard Nápravník (1839-1916) became one of the pivotal figures in the musical life of nineteenth-century Russia: as conductor of the Imperial Mariinsky Opera in St Petersburg, he gave the premieres of some of the most important Russian operas, among them Mussorgsky’s  Boris Godunov, six by Tchaikovsky and nine by Rimsky-Korsakov. But his own music has largely been lost from sight – a fate it emphatically does not deserve, as these three works for violin and piano prove: big-hearted and big-boned, replete with passionate Tchaikovskian melody, they reveal a composer ripe for rediscovery.

Lana Trotovšek was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to a family of musicians. When she was 17 years old, her talent was recognised by Ruggiero Ricci who mentored her at the Academy Mozarteum in Salzburg. Between 2006 and 2011, she was a member of the Greenwich Piano Trio with cellist Stjepan Hauser and pianist Yoko Misumi, winning the Solti Foundation Award, The Tunnell Trust Award and other first prizes in competitions across Europe. Between 2011 and 2013, Lana was the first violinist of the Badke String Quartet, winners of the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition. Lana Trotovšek lives in London and is violin Professor at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She maintains close ties to her home country where she performs regularly and is a visiting Professor at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. Her considerable discography includes discs for Meridian, Hedone and Champs Hill. She plays a 1750 Pietro Antonio dalla Costa violin.

Ludmil Angelov was born in Varna, Bulgaria, into a family of well-known musicians of Bulgarian and Greek descent. In 1994 he was unanimously awarded First Prize at the World Piano Masters International Competition of Monte-Carlo, marking a turning point in his career. Angelov’s considerable work playing Chopin alone has earned him many accolades and awards. Since 1992 he has lived in Spain, where he is the Founder and Artistic Director of Toledo International Music Festival. He teaches at Toledo Conservatory and also gives master-classes at Castellón Conservatory.

‘The four-movement 35 minute Violin Sonata in G major sounds authentically Russian, tuneful and passionate. Trotovšek's warm, lyrical style is perfect for the heart-on-sleeve Andantino doloroso, while she an Angelov really let rip in the boisterous con fuoco finale. The Suite for Violin and Piano Op.60 is equally enjoyable, with a fiery Tarantella. ... A top value 86 minute disc.’ –  Norman Stinchcombe (midlandsmusicreviews.co.uk)