Strauss: Sonata For Violin and Piano/Respighi:Sonata For Violin and Piano

1. Sonata for violin & piano in E flat major, Op. 18
Composed by Richard Strauss
with Kyung-Wha Chung , Krystian Zimerman

2. Sonata for violin & piano, in B minor, P. 110
Composed by Ottorino Respighi
with Kyung-Wha Chung , Krystian Zimerman

Customer Reviews:

Nothing but intensity and red hot musical passion !.......2003-02-08

Strauss was a musical giant and wrote my second favorite violin\piano sonata ever written. His sence of harmony has incredible depth and maturity. His phrases are intensely lyrical while still holding the attention of the virtuoso.

This is not merely a violin sonata, but the piano part is equally important and interesting. The sonata takes a team of great and mature performers to interpret correctly, each soloist must really listen and be in tune what the other is doing and any given second. The rythms are so intricate that it would take a long time to coordinate and synchronize so that it sounds musical.

The Respighi is another sonata I am fond of but not as much as the Strauss. It is a simpler work with less complex harmony. The two sonatas contrast each other well and are enjoyable played back to back.

Chung and Zimmerman are both the finest of soloists and they play with extereme emotion and in perfect time togather here. They play togather naturally here with no rythmic disruption or sence of collision.

Kyung-Wha Chung is my favorite of all the living violinists and her training with Galamian and Szigetti shows as she plays with incredible phrasing the way she shapes the notes with slides and her great vibrato. Her bow technique is basically seamless and she gets a fine tone from her 1745 Guarneri DelGesu. She really lets the music sing and truly speaks with every note here transfoming and subduing the heart of any listener. I remember the first time I heard her CD called "Con Amore" I thought that there has never been a better violin soloist. That CD proved to me that Ms Chung plays violin as well as anyone who ever lived, tossing off virtuoso pieces with effortless technique and undenaiable musicality. Although she has incredible technique, she shys away from the virtuoso show off material and goes for the more mature works with substance. Of course this CD is no exception, nothing but intensity and red hot musical passion.

Krystain Zimerman is a pianist I have admired for a long time. The tone of the piano in his recordings is big, sharp, and brilliant. Alot of people think Zimerman made the best recording of the Chopin Ballades, some of the hardest works available for the piano. Zimerman is magic on this recording, every phrase is tender and sincere, sensitive and stimulating. Every tempo has a strong and even pulse catering to even the slightest change if feel as dicteted by the melody. Zimerman truly has the kind of sensitivity to make this recording work.

I do not recommend this CD, it is a must have. This has been one of my CDs for a very long time, for me it is essential listening. It is OOP and rare so get it if you can.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Rocks & the Blue Caps Roll [Original recording remastered] [Import]

The Seeker

Turn for the Wirtz: Confessions of a Hillbilly Love-God

Revealing

Turn It On [Import]

The World Is a Ghetto

Two for the Road [Import] [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered]

The Joy of Classical Music

The Truckin' Sessions

The Very Best of Bird

Tiny Voices

Tripping the Light Fantastic [Import]

Trance Nation, Vol. 2: 2000 [Import]

One Nation Under God

Do You Wanna Jump ...?