Bach: Violin Sonatas; Continuo Sonatas

Advantages: Thrilling, daredevil chamber music performances from the legendary Martha Argerich and partner-in-crime Gidon Kremer.
Disadvantages: Violinist Kremer occasionally on the mannered, spastic side; only forty-three minutes of music.

...thorough introduction to Martha Argerich, you may want to read my other post (or you may not!): http://www.ciao.co.uk/BachKeyboardWorksReview5359921 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CD Notes: LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770 - 1827) Sonata for Piano and Violin no. 4 in A minor, op. 23 1. (1) Presto 6’56 2. (2) Andante scherzoso più Allegretto 7’20 3. (3) Allegro molto 5’15 Sonata for Piano and Violin no. 5 in F major, op. 24 "Frühlings-Sonate" ["Spring"] 4. (1) Allegro 9’41 5. (2) Adagio molto espressivo 6’02 6. (3) Scherzo. Allegro molto 1’19 7. (4) Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo 6’34 MARTHA ARGERICH, Piano GIDON KREMER, Violin Deutsche Grammophon (P) 1987 43’23 417 787-2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Performances for comparison:) From: BEETHOVEN The Violin Sonatas ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER LAMBERT ORKIS Compact Disc 2 Sonatas op. 23 & op. 24 "Spring Sonata... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Relaxing, serene, dreamy
Disadvantages: The first track is not actual Albinoni

...to the rest of the music – actual Albinoni. Many of the tracks are concertos for solo violins against the typical larger string orchestra of violin, viola, cello and continuo (tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20). The continuo instrument, usually being a harpsichord or organ. The baroque era is dominated by the use of strings and here they can be appreciated for their outstanding qualities. The adagios are slow, smooth and serene decorated with trills and turns. Albinoni was also credited for being the first Italian composer of Oboe concertos. A number of the tracks on the album feature solo oboes against the larger string orchestra (tracks 4, 7, 10, 13). Albinoni's uses the oboe almost like a singer creating a lyrical and pleasant melody to the accompanying strings. Also on the album are three sonatas (tracks 21, 22... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: many
Disadvantages: none

...Very fine cd. D'Indy's String Sextet may be a bit pale as a composition, but the Violin Sonata is a wonderful work that is unjustly neglected. As far as I know this is the only recording ever made, apart from an old one by Henri Temianka and Doris Stevenson. This sonata is named "academic" or "overly intellectual", but this is simply not true. It satisfies the mind as well as the emotion, and that is surely the case in this fine and idiomatic recording by Marietta Kratz and Caroline Weichert. It dates from 1994 and I hope it to be still available. The Piano Quartet by the young D'Indy is a worthwile addition. I strongly recommend this wonderful disc for the repertoire as well as the playing.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful