Flautists will, I think, be rather excited by this disc. Transcriptions for flute of major works for violin is nothing new: think of Jean-Pierre Rampal’s splendid 1968 transcription (at the composer’s suggestion) of Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto. Moving in the opposite direction, Prokofiev – at the request of David Oistrakh – recast his fine Flute Sonata into what has become one of his most-performed instrumental works, the Second Violin Sonata. The prospect, then, of a Grieg violin sonata making its way into the flute repertoire should surprise no one; but all three? That is what flautists will thank Kaleb Chesnic for.

Chesnic is not the first flautist to transcribe Grieg for their instrument, of course: Gergely Ittzés has arranged the First Sonata (1865), while Stephen Lee has done likewise for the Second (1867), but Chesnic is the first, so far as I can determine, to tackle all three together. And what a joy they are to hear in this new guise – the first two sonatas in particular really gleam in Chesnic’s hands, the youthful exuberance that Grieg caught so acutely translating winningly in these bright performances. This is Chesnic’s debut recording, and it is clear from it that he is a sensitive and virtuoso performer. His musicality comes through in every bar, beautifully accompanied by Nathália Kato, another name new to me – though familiar no doubt to the students at the University of Wyoming, where she is a member of staff.

The first-movement Allegro molto ed appassionato of No 3, written 20 years after its predecessor, does not lie quite so well on the flute, but Chesnic makes a superb case for it and is again well supported by Kato. The central Allegretto espressivo alla romanza is rendered beautifully but the opening tempo is too relaxed, closer to adagio than allegretto. The Allegro animato finale is also not quite up to tempo but brings the programme to a satisfying conclusion. MSR’s sound is pretty first-rate, too. Warmly recommended.