The title Encore! really applies to half of this splendid anthology devoted to Gerhard Taschner (1922-76), a violinist virtually unknown to American collectors yet whose numerous radio recordings testify to his commanding virtuosity, ardent tone, and intense but never wobbly vibrato, insightful musicianship, and wide stylistic reach. Like his older, better-known colleague Nathan Milstein, Taschner can play eloquent, classically poised Beethoven (as in the "Spring" and Op. 12 No. 3 sonatas, brilliantly partnered by pianist Edith Farnadi) and also toss off Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy and Zigeunerweisen or Blair Fairchild's flickering "Mosquitos" with plenty of panache. His affinity for the bluesy inflections in Gershwin's Short Story proves more idiomatic than what many American fiddlers can muster. Likewise, Taschner projects the Ravel Sonata's jazz-tinged nuances to perfection (and so does Farnadi).

Grieg's C minor and G major sonatas receive uplifting, ebullient performances, and Schoeck's wistful, conservative lyricism also benefits from Taschner's compelling advocacy. Some of his portamentos seem slightly vulgar in the noble, seraphic context of Brahms' G major Sonata, but he more than compensates in his long-lined, sustained treatment of the Adagio, helped by pianist Martin Krause's anchoring support. All of the recordings stem from superbly engineered RIAS studio broadcasts taped between 1949 and 1956. Some of this material previously has appeared on Tahra, remastered at a slightly higher decibel level, with just a little more presence (some might call it stridency) to the violin tone. MDG, by contrast, beefs up the piano's bass by a few increments. If you're a violin connoisseur, yield to temptation and buy this set.

--Jed Distler