Franck: Sonata for violin in A; Elgar: Sonata for violin in Em

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
After a period of semiretirement due to personal problems, Midori returns with this marvelous recital. The Franck sonata is, after Beethoven's Kreutzer, the best known--and just plain best--work for violin and piano. The finale features a tune so completely beautiful that you hardly even notice Franck's ingenious, strictly contrapuntal treatment of it each time in returns. Midori's performance of the sonata is both probing and intimate. What's more, the rarely performed Elgar work offers a singularly apt coupling that raises the entire recital to a very special level of distinction. Let's hope that this excellent violinist enjoys a smooth career from here on out. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Sonata For Violin And Piano In E Minor, Op.82: I. Allegro
Sonata For Violin And Piano In E Minor, Op.82: II. Romance. Andante
Sonata For Violin And Piano In E Minor, Op.82: III. Allegro, Non Troppo
Sonata For Violin And Piano In A Major: I. Allegretto Ben Moderato
Sonata For Violin And Piano In E Minor, Op.82: II. Allegro
Sonata For Violin And Piano In E Minor, Op.82: III. Recitativo-Fantasia
Sonata For Violin And Piano In E Minor, Op.82: IV. Allegretto Poco Mosso

Amazon.com

After a period of semiretirement due to personal problems, Midori returns with this marvelous recital. The Franck sonata is, after Beethoven's Kreutzer, the best known--and just plain best--work for violin and piano. The finale features a tune so completely beautiful that you hardly even notice Franck's ingenious, strictly contrapuntal treatment of it each time in returns. Midori's performance of the sonata is both probing and intimate. What's more, the rarely performed Elgar work offers a singularly apt coupling that raises the entire recital to a very special level of distinction. Let's hope that this excellent violinist enjoys a smooth career from here on out. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Well put together album; romantic melodrama.......2007-04-23

Some reviewers may have commented on how Midori's Franck compares to her own Elgar, but take the whole album wholly: it's a rather consistent and well put together album. The Elgar piece transits to the Franck's Sonata rather fluently. The style of the two pieces congruent.

While I am not going to contest with other reviewers' criticism on Midori's interpretation on Franck, but listen very closely toward the end of the third movement. The melancholy wailing of the violin is /dying/ for attention. I've heard other musicians doing the piece, everyone else played straight and let piano concluded the drama. NOT this version! The violin's wailing suddenly takes a turn toward south, and with your ears, you could see the queen of the tragedy falls on the stage. Piano reverberates. Curtains close. The unsettling silence before the grand ovation. It's all good.

simply great music.......2000-11-03

What a great violinist.

Midori takes Elgar's Sonata with passion. It's simply breath-taking. I can see some inteligence here... but how delicate it is. Their interplay creates dimension, and silence comes so strong between the notes. When the central melody of the 2nd Movement comes back in the 3rd movement, it becomes truly a moving moment.

I give a credit to her Franck. It is very introspective. She takes a very long stride, instead of playing phrase by phrase she slowly and gradually opens the music. When it reveals strong emotion once a while then it becomes truly meaningful. She's got a point there. It struck my mind so strong.

I strongly recommend this disc. To any classical music listener.

5 stars for Elgar and 4 stars for Franck.......2000-02-18

This is the most convincing and most gorgeous Elgar I 've ever heard. She expresses the inner emotion of the music so well. Intense opening and drama of the first movement, slowly evolving emotion in the second movement and eloquence of the 3rd movement, every detail is well considered and structured, yet they let the music grow and flow. Her tonal beauty (sensitive but warm pearly tone) comes so strong in 2nd and 3rd movements. Midori's Elgar makes all the other recordings of Elgar somewhat pale. Oh, by the way, her accompanist is great.

My personal opinion for Midori's Franck's sonata is that it sounds somewhat lacking in something. I think she tackled this one in the same manner as in Elgar. I still think the best choice for Franck is Kyung Wha Chung & Radu Lupu from Decca. Chung really lets the air come through with her deeply felt emotion and her silvery tone (kinda reminds me of autumn leaves) beautifully works with the music. In Midori's case, her linear readings miss capturing the atmosphere. She sounds like she is thinking about the structure rather than feeling the music.

Well, overall, This CD is worth buying even just to listen to Elgar.

Pretty good.......1999-07-10

I want to concurr in every way with the previous reviewer. The Elgar, which I'd never heard before, was a revelation and I'd say it's almost as good as the three Brahms sonatas. Midori and her accompanist play it very well. The Franck is less successful. Midori, who's intonation is beyond belief -- technically, she is astounding -- is less expressive and emotional than in the Elgar. McDonald is excellent throughout.

To take a step back, Midori, who has taken some hits for being an unmusical child virtuoso, is clearly attempting to establish herself as a more serious musician in some unshowy repertory. She's on her way and we should thank her for selecting the Elgar.

Enthralling Elgar, plain Franck.......1999-01-06

I've not yet heard any other version of the Elgar sonata, but Midori made me love this work, and motivated me to learn it. Although rarely performed, this work sounds so charming, lovely, and compelling, full of romance, vitality, and energy.

The Franck sonata is an undisputed musical masterpiece, and one of the most famous and popular violin sonatas. I thought Midori's reading was rather plain and uninspired, and she uses too few slides. And even in our age of advanced technology, when editors can make unnoticeable note-for-note substitutions, Midori hits the undesirable E string TWICE on the A in measures 34 and 158, second movement.

Anyway, the Elgar is well worth listening to.

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