Old buffers such as Norman Lebrecht like to talk about the "golden age of recording" in the 1930s, 50s and 60s. But in truth, during that age there were only 6-8 recording companies distributing records internationally, which meant that only a dozen or so violinists and a dozen or so pianists and a dozen or so conductors had any look-in. If you wanted Beethoven, Brahms or Mozart performed by well-known names, you were OK. But demand Charles-Auguste de Bériot's 12 Scènes ou Caprices Op 109 for solo violin, and you would need to wait many decades.

Which is a pity, but the current real golden age means not only do we have instant access to all those recordings by Menuhin, Heifetz, Schnabel, Furtwängler et al; we also have access to the concertos, solo violin pieces and duets for two violins by Monsieur de Bériot. In this case, courtesy once again St Klaus of Naxos. The new CD of 68 minutes of solo violin pieces played by Bella Hristova reveals some very attractive and melodic music -- quite as interesting as Paganini's capricci. Ms Hristova (who grew up in Bulgaria but now lives in America) is an entirely competent and accurate player. I miss, however, the variety of sound and colour needed to hold one's attention for 68 minutes of solo violin playing, the kind of variety that I so admired in the playing of Fanny Clamagirand (Ysaÿe solo sonatas) or that Heifetz would have brought to these pieces. (Miss Clamagirand has, apparently, just recorded the three violin concertos of Saint-Saëns, and I'll be waiting in line for these).

A second de Bériot CD (St Klaus again) of duos played by Christine Sohn and John Marcus awaits listening by me. Not much de Bériot music was available during Norman Lebrecht's golden age of recording, which is a great shame since it is highly enjoyable music.