Search - Johannes Brahms, Elisabeth Westenholz :: Brahms: Violin Sonatas

Brilliant, aggressive Brahms

08/15/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Exuberatnt, expressive playing and inseperable communication make this duo's performance of the Brahms sonatas the most exciting, heart-wrenching interpretation I have heard, and one of my all-time favorite classical releases. Sparf has a thick, full tone that he keeps wonderfully balanced across the range of the instrument -- but at the same time has no problem digging in and making the instrument buzz a bit here and there. Westenholz plays a Bosendorfer 275 on this record, and her touch on this instrument creates a sustain through the harmonic figures that reminds me more of an organ . . . whew!! Tempi are right where they should be on slow movements -- the feel of the elusive Brahms three-against-two rhythmic patterns are beautifully languid. Especially noteworthy is their work on the slow movement of the f minor. This was originally a two-LP set of all the Brahms violin and viola sonatas and is now two separate CDs -- the second CD (BIS-213) has the scherzo from the FAE-Sonata performed equally brilliantly. Other excellent (also recommended) performances I own and compare it to are Peter Serkin/Pamela Frank, Kim Kashkashian/Robert Levin (viola sonatas), and David Oistrach/Svitaoslav Richter."