Violinist Muresanu Delivers Some Promising Sounds

Musical luster, melting lyricism and a colorful conception made Irina Muresanu’s performance of Richard Strauss’ early Opus 18 Violin Sonata especially admirable Wednesday night at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Thus, a work often considered tawdry seemed more poetic and thus more touching than usual. Muresanu’s glowing reading of the central Andante gave it a depth not always achieved.

The young Romanian violinist, still a postgraduate student at the New England Conservatory, was opening the recital season for the Pro Musicis Foundation’s LACMA series. She had the able, if sometimes musically one-dimensional, assistance of pianist Judith Gordon.

Before this satisfying account of the Strauss work, the evening provided an example of entry-level excellence. Muresanu and Gordon gave a clean, almost clinical run-through of Beethoven’s E-flat Sonata, Opus 12, No. 3. It showed lots of speed and duty but little affection. The old question arises: If you don’t love it, why play it?

Schubert’s Duo Concertant in A, D. 574, showed more contrasts, but still fell below that total commitment expected of genuine Schubertians. This composer’s style resides on several more levels than this team visited. In certain moments of insouciance, lightness and elegance, however--most of the Scherzo, for instance--they displayed real promise.