Customer Reviews

Brahms: The Violin Sonatas

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This is a very memorable album of Brahms Violin Sonatas. As a direct descent of Dvorak, Suk sure knows how to play Brahms, who was Dvorak's mentor. You can feel the polished glory of his sound in every note, and every phrase is played with just the right amount of burning passion and romantic nuance - the d minor sonata especially is a gem you wouldn't want to miss. The crisp Decca acoustics and the golden rich tone of Suk together create a very special atmosphere. Alongside this recording, I recommend the two Brahms trios Suk played with Janos Starker and Julius Katchen: it's the definitive romantic interpretation of those monumental works.

Among the annals of the greatest historical registers ever made this set must be included in a top list of the twenty five gem performances of the chamber music genre.

There is not any violinist of today capable to equal the level of expression and total commitment of Joseph Suk. Moreover, can boast of this kaleidoscopic variety of tonal colour, organic phrasing, mercurial tact, and even major ability to express with such deepness of sheer lyricism.

Of course, there must be a strong acknowledgement in which concerns to the musical support of Julius Katchen one of the most extraordinary pianist born in USA, whose musical canvas sounds so expressive natural that it would seem to have been born in Europe. His velvet sound, his accuracy around every single bar and his inimitable pianissimos makes of him the most remarkable American pianist playing Brahms. He captured and knew to deal with the essential core of Brahms, conferring him of grace, charm ,deepness without that nestled humor into the musical structure.

I would like to underline this last aspect because without that Mediterranean touch, Brahms may be unbearable to listen. That's why there are so many brilliant pianists who conscious or unconsciously increase a pretended austerity in his music, lacking that kind spirit of a man who loved the Hungarian tunes and maintained a sort of formidable equilibrium between expression and charm; vigor and lyricism.

That's why this set must be acquired in case you (as I do) be a hard fan Brahms chamber music and effectively want to possess the4 best versions of this first rate composer.

A must-have.

Another reviewer has made the "Czech Connection". It is fun to suppose that the Brahms/Dvorak relationship and the wealth of Bohemian musicality which they both appreciated has been genetically preserved in Joseph Suk. Fanciful speculation of course, but there is no doubt that Suk plays these three Sonatas with a greater sense of phrasing and much broader tone colour than the others with whom I'm familiar and who do not share this musical heritage.

The three Sonatas were recorded in the now-gone Kingsway Hall two years before the premature death of Julius Katchen who essentially was a solo recitalist - I think his recordings of the complete Brahms solo piano repertoire quite the best - but, as these sonatas demonstrate, also was a very fine and empathetic accompanist.

Of the recordings of these delightful Sonatas currently available, I think this one is a classic and the yardstick against which others should be measured - it is thoroughly deserving of its inclusion in Decca's "Legendary Performances" series. The musical synergy of the duo is very evident; the recording quality is excellent and the balance between instruments very much better than usually is achieved with violin/piano pairing.

I have other recordings of these works but they do not have the charm and musicality of this collection which I recommend.

At the moment I'm listening (on the radio) to the Shlomo Mintz/Itamar Golan recording of Sonata No. 1 and it's all too slow and earth-bound for my taste. It's as though the musicians are driving home the point that this is some of the most beautiful music from the romantic era. But for me it doesn't work to play these sonatas with any sort of restraint. I have fond memories of an LP of Menuhin and Kentner, both completely carried away by the music's sheer ecstasy (Brahms must have been unbelievably happy when he wrote both the first and second sonatas) and this CD is the only one I've heard that comes close to Menuhin and Kentner. I might even prefer it to Menuhin and Kentner if I had the time to find the LP and go to all the trouble inherent in playing vinyl discs. I didn't choose this performance; I inherited it from my sister, and I wish I had asked her (when she played it for me on my last visit to her home) why she chose it in preference to others.

These are my favorite recordings of the Brahms violin sonatas, edging Perlman/Ashkenazy, who hint on occasion of a sugary style of romanticism. I think the playing here is more nuanced and introspective. These two play pianissimo with as much control and delicacy as I have heard, providing the best sense of the ephemeral quality of many of Brahms' more intimate passages. The sound of the instruments here is superb, individually and in combination. Katchen is as remarkable an accompanist as he is a soloist; I always love the distinctive sound of his piano. Suk is not as far forward in the mix as is Perlman, but still projects power and intensity. His violin has a somewhat dry tone, offering for me the slight classical shading that is necessary to capture the Brahms style of romanticism. For the Dm sonata, the Vengerov/Barenboim pairing is on an equal plane with this recording in my estimation. It is a different, bolder execution. Vengerov gives us luscious tone and inspired playing, well complemented by Barenboim and this pristine recording. I listen to it often. But the Suk/Katchen is still my favorite interpretation. The tempi are moderate throughout. The recording quality is excellent. These are gorgeous examples of some of Brahms' most beautiful music. Highly recommended.

Another true classic, this one, and in very good sound as well. Josef Suk's playing style embodied (or embodies) a nobility and sophistication - in addition to strength and panache - almost ideally suited to Brahms's three violin sonatas. The playing shimmers and glows, and the melodic lines sound almost effortless even though he supplies the requisite smoldering intensity when called for. The tone is round and warm and beautiful and the phrasing magnificently unforced. No need for Suk to deploy artificial tricks (slight acceleration or crescendos) to build climaxes and tension. Quite simply marvelous playing.

Julius Katchen is almost as outstanding, never impassive or reticient but always in perfect attunement to the violin playing - this is superb piano playing in its own right, with poetry and depth aplenty but works additional wonders in partnership with the Suk's magnificent performance. The sound quality is outstanding as well; the transfers are warm and full-bodied - they won't exactly manage to fool anyone into thinking these are modern recordings, but sound quality on the level of the almost glowingly golden hue of these analogue recordings are rarely achieved even today. Urgently recommended if you don't already have it.