Day 232: String Quartets

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Bill

Ahhh, this is great stuff.

And it’s not like this isn’t the kind of music one might hear at a wine-and-cheese soiree in some posh home, or at an art exhibit in an upscale gallery.

But it’s clever, with enough depth and complexity to hold my attention.

One moment, I’m listening to the cello. The next moment, I’m listening to a violin. Other moments, I’m listening to all the instruments together. Then, I listen to what they’re doing that’s unexpected.

That’s when I’m most enamored with a piece of music: when it holds my attention on several levels.

On today’s CD, I am privileged to experience three string quartets:

String Quartet No. 1 in F Op. 18 No. 1 (composed 1799; Beethoven was 29)

String Quartet No. 2 in G Op. 18 No. 2 (composed 1799; Beethoven was 29)

String Quartet No. 3 in D Op. 18 No. 3 (composed 1798/1799; Beethoven was 28 or 29)

Performing these exquisite compositions is the Suske Quartett:

Karl Suske violin I
Klaus Peters violin II
Karl-Heinz Dommus viola
Matthias Pfaender cello

String Quartet No. 1 in F. Op. 18 no. 1 is a lot of fun, with plenty of quirks and twists and turns.

String Quartet No. 1 is fascinating.

But so are all three of these string quartets.

Well, maybe “fascinating” is not the right word. They’re not as fascinating as, say, one of Beethoven’s symphonies. Those are powerful, dynamic, exquisite, compelling. String Quartet No. 1 is not in that same league. But it is entertaining.

Movement III (“Scherzo: Allegro – Trio”) from String Quartet No. 2 is quite entertaining. Bits of rapid-fire ask-and-answer (as I call it) between the instruments. Depth and complexity. All at a tempo that I dig.

Speaking of which, the very next movement (Movement IV: “Allegro molto, quasi presto”) ramps up the pace even more, and really gets the violins “sawing” away.

I’m not a speed freak. I don’t need music to be fast to be good. But, too often, music that is slow tends to feel like a dirge to me. It’s lugubrious. Fast often means the musicians can show off a bit, which means listeners are treated to breathtaking performances.

So, if I had my druthers, I’d choose fast over slow. But that’s not a do-or-die rule. Sometimes slow can be tremendously emotional.

But the line between emotional and maudlin is a very fine one.

Day 231: String Trios II

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Bill

Whereas yesterday, I didn’t really appreciate the string trios, today – for some odd reason – I do.

Maybe I’m a sucker for music composed in G, which is how today’s CD begins (String Trio In G Op. 9 No. 1). It’s possible. Because this morning I was attentive to every note from the very first.

Maybe it’s the lower register and the slower pace that adds depth. It’s possible. When something seems emotional, rather than lugubrious, I take notice.

Honestly, I don’t know why today’s trios affect me differently.

I just know they do.

Today’s music seems more introspective, melancholy, or expansive to me. It seems to have a more colorful palette.

Here’s what I’m listening to:

String Trio In G Op. 9 No. 1 (composed 1797-1798; Beethoven was 27 or 28)

String Trio in D Op. 9 No. 2 (composed 1797-1798; Beethoven was 27 or 28)

String Trio in C Minor Op. 9 No. 3 (composed 1797-1798; Beethoven was 27 or 28)

Here’s who’s performing them:

The Zurich String Trio

Boris Livschitz violin
Zvi Livschitz viola
Mikael Hakhnazarian cello

By the way, String Trio in D Op. 9 No. 2 is the flip side to String Trio in G Op. 9 No. 1. The latter is bright, lively, and textured. The former is contemplative, relaxed, and deep.

This was one of my favorite Beethoven CDs so far. It’s not in my Top 5. But it’s surely in my Top 15.

Day 230: String Trios I

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Bill

Other than being very pleasant, soothing music, performed with exceptional skill, the sonatas on Beethoven CD 35 – String Trios I – aren’t all that memorable.

None jumped out at me the way, say, they did on the last CD (Violin Sonatas IV, especially Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Op. 47 “Kreutzer”).

This reminds me of music one would hear playing at the opening of an art show, or at a posh wine-and-cheese soiree at someone’s estate.

However, the music is not lively enough to be sufficient background for a writing project; nor are these string trios compelling enough for active listening.

Here’s what I heard today:

String Trio in E Flat Op. 3 (composed 1792-96; Beethoven was 22-26 years old)

Serenade in D Op. 8 (composed 1795-97; Beethoven was 25-27 years old)

Here’s who performed these compositions:

The Zurich String Trio

Boris Livschitz violin
Zvi Livschitz viola
Mikael Hakhnazarian cello

Day 229: Violin Sonatas IV

Posted on May 18, 2014 by Bill

What a terrific way to start a day!

Movement I (“Adagio sostenuto – Presto”) from Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Op. 47 “Kreutzer” is a corker. Brisk, expressive, and dynamic; it’s everything a Beethoven composition should be.

The performers are the same as they’ve been for the past few Violin Sonata CDs:

Kristof Barati violin
Klara Wurtz piano

But there’s something especially magical about this sonata, a fun melody that alternates between the violin and the piano as it expresses itself. It has that ask-and-answer quality that I like where one instrument will play a short passage and then the other will repeat it, back and forth.

This movement almost has a kind of Hungarian feel to it.

And pizzicato! Yes, pizzicato, my old friend. Toward the end of Movement I, as things are really syncopated and dynamic, the violin plays a bit of pizzicato as the counterpoint to the piano’s dynamics. It’s particularly arresting. It happens around the 10:45 mark in the piece.

I have to say, this movement, from this Piano Sonata, could very well be one of my favorite pieces from Beethoven. This is tremendously compelling music.

The above YouTube clip is not from this morning’s listening. Featured on that clip are violinist Itzhak Perlman and pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy. The recording on the YouTube clip is from 1973. It’s a fine recording, and they are fine musicians. But, truth be told, I prefer the dynamics of Kristof and Klara for this piece.

By the way, in the YouTube clip, my favorite part comes around the 9:25 mark.

It’s time to let my fingers do the walking into Google Land for a moment. I need to find out more about Piano Sonata No. 9 in A Op. 47 “Kreutzer.”

Ahh, and so I discover what Continue reading →

Day 228: Violin Sonatas III

Posted on May 17, 2014 by Bill

I love watching the sun come up.

Here I sit at Panera Bread. It’s about quarter past six in the morning. The sun is painting the skies. But it’s another cloudy day. So the beautiful colors will fade to gray soon.

But it’s sunny somewhere, even if we can’t see it from where we sit. So how can we be sad?

Plus, is it really possible to feel out of sorts or depressed when there’s Beethoven’s violin’s sonatas for the listening?

And not just any violin sonatas. These are expertly performed by two of the world’s finest musicians:

Kristof Barati violin
Klara Wurtz piano

These two gifted musicians perform three compositions on this CD:

Violin Sonata No. 6 in A Op. 30 No. 1 (composed 1801-1802; Beethoven was 31-32)

Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor Op. 30 No. 2 (composed 1801-1802; Beethoven was 31-32)

Movement II (“Adagio cantabile”) features one of my favorite sounds: pizzicato. It’s near the end of the movement. As soon as I heard it, I smiled. For some reason, I love pizzicato in a piece of music. It’s such a fun sound.

Violin Sonata No. 8 in G Op. 30 No. 3 (composed 1801-1802; Beethoven was 31-32)

According to its entry on Wikipedia,

This sonata is characteristic of early/middle Beethoven in its solid sonata structure, just beginning to get adventurous in syncopation, with some extraordinary off beat sforzandi.

Indeed.

Day 227: Violin Sonatas II

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Bill

Two violin sonatas await the lucky listener on today’s CD:

Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor Op. 23 (composed 1800-1801; Beethoven was 30-31)

Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Op. 24 “Spring” (composed 1801; Beethoven was 31)

Both are performed eloquently by Kristof Barati on violin and Klara Wurtz on piano.

I should have looked up Klara Wurtz sooner because what I found out about her is interesting:

Klára Würtz (Budapest, 1965) is a Hungarian pianist. She is married to the Dutch label manager Pieter Shop Brilliant Classics, and since 1996 living in Amsterdam. Würtz teaches at the Utrecht Conservatory.

Her career has ups and downs; periods of action are interspersed with silences. After the birth of her daughter (2004), it may not play because of tendinitis in her hands for a year. But according to her is not her ambition to “a toppianiste” to be., As they say themselves,

Her many musical recordings covering mainly the Classical and Romantic period: Mozart , Beethoven , Brahms , Schubert, Schumann, Tchaikovsky.

That was translated using Google translations for the Wikipedia article. So it’s not precise in its wording. But I think we get the gist of it.

What I found most interesting is that she’s married to the man who manages Brilliant Classics, the record label on which this recording resides.

In the Classical music world, two labels used to rule Continue reading →

Day 226: Violin Sonatas I

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Bill

Today’s CD represents a very nice change of pace from the previous series of Piano Trios and Cello Sonatas.

Musicians are:

Kristof Barati violin
Klara Wurtz piano

They are exceptional, and an inspired pairing.

Compositions are:

Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Op. 12 No. 1 (composed 1797-1798; Beethoven was 27 or 28)

Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Op. 12 No. 2 (composed 1797-1798; Beethoven was 27 or 28)

Violin Sonata No. 3 in E Flat Op. 12 No. 3 (composed 1797-1798; Beethoven was 27 or 28)

This is entertaining, compelling, lively music…and soulful, pensive, melancholy music.

In short, Beethoven’s violin sonatas are perfect for whatever mood you’re in.

Day 225: Cello Sonatas II, Cello Variations

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Bill

There are 59 tracks on today’s CD, representing five different compositional sections:

Cello Sonata in C Op. 102 No. 1

Cello Sonata in D Op. 102 No. 2

12 Variations Wo045

12 Variations Op. 66

7 Variations Wo046

Musicians are:

Timora Rosler cello

Klara Wurtz piano

Cello Sonata in D Op. 102 No. 2 is splendid. The variations are fun, especially if you like piano music with lots and lots of notes, which I do.

Day 224: Cello Sonatas I

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Bill

Just two musicians are making all of this beautiful music!

They are:

Timora Rosler cello
Klara Wurtz piano

The level of musicianship is outstanding. The full, rich, dynamic sounds emanating from this duo need to be heard to be believed. I realize the lion’s share of credit goes to Ludwig himself who composed these sonatas. But, still, they’re played with extraordinary skill.

Cello Sonata in F Op. 5 No. 1 (composed 1796; Beethoven was 26)

Cello Sonata in G Minor Op. 5 No. 2 (composed 1796; Beethoven was 26)

Cello Sonata in A Op. 69 (composed in 1808; Beethoven was 38)

Of the last sonata, its entry on Wikipedia says this:

The Sonata No. 3 dates from Beethoven’s most productive compositional period. Composed in the same year were the Violin Concerto and the two piano trios of Op. 70; the same year also saw the completion and publication of the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies.

Day 223: Piano Trios V

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Bill

More Beethoven wonderfulness performed by Trio Elegiaque:

Laurent Le Flecher violin
Virginie Constant cello
Francois Dumont piano

Here’s what was on tap for me today:

Piano Trio in B Flat Op. 11 “Gassenhauer”

Piano Trio in G Op. 121 A

Piano Trio in E Flat Op. 38 after septet Op. 20

1095 Days With the Masters and Me

In Which I Spend Three Years Exploring the Works of the World's Greatest Composers, Authors, Filmmakers, Musicians, and Actors. I'm Not Crazy. Just Insatiably Curious. (Oh, like you're not?)

Monthly Archives: May 2014