SONATA FOR MIRIAM

Andy Paris's voice has a lovely timbre, and he performs with subtlety and attention. His protagonist, violinist and composer Adam Anker, was born in Krakow, raised in Sweden, and lives in New Zealand for part of this story, so there are many ways to go wrong with accents here. Paris avoids all of them. With respect and admirable patience, he also handles the contrived back story of Adam's secret parentage, and the terrible choice presented to him by his beloved, long-absent wife. But when the narration switches to the voice of the missing wife near the end, things unravel. There are too many new and dramatic revelations, and while Rachel Botchan performs beautifully, her voice sounds too young for middle-aged, sorrowful Cecelia. B.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2009]