Violin Sonata No. 1 In G, Op. 78: I: Vivace ma non troppo
Violin Sonata No. 1 In G, Op. 78: II: Adagio
Violin Sonata No. 1 In G, Op. 78: III. Allegro molto moderato
Violin Sonata No. 2 In A, Op. 100: I: Allegro amabile
Violin Sonata No. 2 In A, Op. 100: II: Andante tranquillo - Vivace
Violin Sonata No. 2 In A, Op. 100: III. Allegretto grazioso (quasi Andante)
Violin Sonata No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 108: I: Allegro
Violin Sonata No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 108: II: Adagio
Violin Sonata No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 108: III: Un poco presto e con sentimento
Violin Sonata No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 108: IV: Presto agitato
There are many recordings of these three masterpieces of the sonata literature, but if two artists can communicate a personal response to them, another one is always welcome. This recording is certainly a valuable addition... more » to the discography. Chung and Frankl have obviously thought carefully about the music and feel it strongly; their approach shows great respect for the composer's style and intentions as well as genuine emotional involvement. Equally at home with Brahms's classical austerity, romantic ardor and autumnal mellowness, they identify completely with the expansive, wistful lyricism of the first sonata; the gracious poetry and warmth of the second; the urgent, dramatic intensity of the third. They favor flowing tempi; long phrases; discreet, subtle liberties; simple, direct expressiveness. Balance and ensemble are excellent; both players are technically impeccable. Chung's tone is beautiful at all times; warm and radiant, it glows and shimmers. --Edith Eisler« less
There are many recordings of these three masterpieces of the sonata literature, but if two artists can communicate a personal response to them, another one is always welcome. This recording is certainly a valuable addition to the discography. Chung and Frankl have obviously thought carefully about the music and feel it strongly; their approach shows great respect for the composer's style and intentions as well as genuine emotional involvement. Equally at home with Brahms's classical austerity, romantic ardor and autumnal mellowness, they identify completely with the expansive, wistful lyricism of the first sonata; the gracious poetry and warmth of the second; the urgent, dramatic intensity of the third. They favor flowing tempi; long phrases; discreet, subtle liberties; simple, direct expressiveness. Balance and ensemble are excellent; both players are technically impeccable. Chung's tone is beautiful at all times; warm and radiant, it glows and shimmers. --Edith Eisler
CD Reviews
Beautiful music, beautifully presented
Neal J. Pollock | VA USA | 03/24/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Brahms' wonderful violin sonatas have been played & recorded many times. No wonder he's one of the 3 B's! (with Beethoven & Bach). This particular recording is very rich in sound quality as well as technical skill. It's wonderful to listen to by itself, play as background music, or even (at least in parts) to meditate to. The two artists (Chung on violin & Frankl on piano) coordinate together well, presenting the music as an integrated whole. I like it even better than the Ashkenazi/Perlman version. The CD is a generous (& highly enjoyable) 67.58 minutes long & is one of the "EMI Classics.""
Great recording
Chris Onions | 06/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am fond of the performances by Kyung-Wha Chung and Peter Frankl, not least because they relax into the music, allowing it all the space it needs. Indeed, they even make one feel fond of the composer, which, great though he was, is not always easy. A fantastic CD. Edgardo"
Time, waiting and poetry
Chris Onions | 11/02/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These days I see some young violinists prgram Brahms sonatas especially the G major for their recitals. Though their technique is generally superb, their musicality is not often times ripen to play these sonatas. Consequently, straight forward readings from the music make the sonatas sound simply boring. Chung's recording of the three sonatas is a prime example of what musical maturity can bring out of these poetic sonatas. Sometimes, waiting and growing up are more important than commercialism."
Ethereal tone and noble restraint
Chris Onions | Wolverhampton | 07/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am fascinated by these lovely sonatas to an extent which frankly goes beyond enjoyment and borders on obsession! As a result I now have five different versions on CD. Here is an inevitably biased survey of those five versions.
Taking these in turn:
Osostowicz & Tomes - highly recommended by the generally reliable Penguin Guide, which is why I bought it, but I find this version rather anaemic and characterless and therefore, though probably technically excellent, strangely uninvolving. This could be due to the recording as much as the performance but either way this is not on my recommended list.
Chung & Frankl play at a leisurely tempo which follows the natural ebb and flow of the music and they are not afraid to let the music come to rest at times. Chung plays with her characteristic ethereal tone, warm but with a degree of noble restraint, achieving an effect which I find quite other-worldly and often very moving, for instance in the sublime closing moments of the third movement of the G major sonata.
Suk & Katchen - this is the oldest recording in my collection, dating from 1967 and frankly, even with all the digital remastering etc, it shows it. The playing is magnificent but for whatever reason on CD the tone of the violin is rather harsh and quickly becomes grating to my ear. Not on my recommended list despite its legendary status.
Zukerman & Barenboim - warm, expressive and relaxed playing from these two with plenty of vibrato in Zukerman's violin playing, more than on other versions reviewed here and rather more than is currently fashionable. No matter - if that's what you like there's plenty of it as their version comes in a 2CD pack with Brahms' viola sonatas also by Zukerman & Barenboim, also very enjoyably played, even if the music itself is not so sublime.
Mutter & Weissenberg - Mutter plays with great passion and vigour, and achieves a gorgeous tone from her violin which is rather forwardly recorded. The balance does favour Mutter over Weissenberg - a pity as Brahms writing for piano is very lovely and Weissenberg is a fine pianist. The duo are on the brisk side and sometimes they do pull the tempo around. There may be some justification for this - there certainly is an ebb and flow to the music and their approach works wonderfully in the closing flourish of the first movement of the G major sonata. If I'd never heard other versions these tempo choices might seem absolutely right and proper, but as it is I have and they don't. The whole third movement of the G major is played too fast for my liking, losing the wistful quality which underlies the music of these sonatas. Still very enjoyable as an overall package, a version that grows on one and I'm sure one could fall in love with, particularly if encountering these sonatas for the first time.
I can't really comment on the well-known Perlman & Ashkenazy version having only listened to sound samples. Though this is highly rated in the Penguin Guide, I probably won't get it as I was underwhelmed by their Spring & Kreutzer sonatas, also highly recommended in the PG. In any cases five versions is probably enough!
Having said that, I still have not found my ideal version and the more interpretations one listens to the clearer it becomes that there is no definitive version. Of the above five my favourite is currently Chung & Frankl and I doubt if anyone looking for one recording would be disappointed. Mutter & Weissenberg come a close second despite any reservations."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1