Customer Reviews

Hindemith: Viola Vorks Vol.1

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As an admirer of the chief proponent of quartal/quintal harmony, the overly-neglected yet brilliant Paul Hindemith, I can't believe I didn't buy this recording earlier! Paul Cortese, evidently the world's greatest apologist for Hindemith's viola works, has chosen to record the entire oeuvre. This disc contains the three concerti for viola and small orchestra, and, as usual, Hindemith does not fail to provide fascinating contrapuntal textures throughout these works, coupled with modern yet thoroughly listenable harmonies. Cortese takes on the complex pieces and brings out the best in them: athletic, technical passages carried out flawlessly; pensive, moody gray-brown meditations moaning in the mid- and low-ranges of the viola; or romantic moments enjoined with Cortese's rich, fluid tone. The Philharmonia Orchestra, unsurprisingly, supports the soloist with the clean precision required of Hindemith.

These viola works by Hindemith were long in need of a champion. Cortese, a product of the University of Illinois, New England Conservatory, Curtis Institute, and a wealth of international experience, seems a likely loung lad. Notwithstanding the new enfants terrible like Shakrevi, Tydipujev, and Tuji Fuji, Paul Cortese has definitely made his mark on the world of violists with this excellent recording.

I personally think this is the best modern recording I've heard of Schwanendreher. I enjoy Cortese' interpretation as he really plays like a violist. I'm tired of hearing recordings of viola concerti by violinists. Cortese does an excellent job at getting that big fat viola sound which is exactly what Schwanendreher needs. I also have recordings by Ralph Hillyer, Geraldine Walther, and Tabea Zimmerman. By far, Cortese' interpretation and ability to communicate through the viola is quite wonderful. Tempos are overall slower than most recordings which allow for listeners to really enjoy and understand the phrases better. Worth buying the whole album!

I was a little surprised at the lackluster interpretations that these concertos had from Cortese. I am a huge fan of these works, and I highly prefer the versions of the Der Schwanendreher (Albany Records) and Konzertmusik (Old Louisville recording) by Raphael Hillyer, and the Kammermusik by Kashkashian. This disc is about equal in quality to the Brett Dean recording of the Hindemith Concertos (with Queensland Symphony Orchestra), which is equally lackluster. Overall, these interepretations are somewhat unimaginative. I missed the quicker tempos of the fast movements heard in the Hillyer versions, especially the 3rd movement of the Konzertmusik and the last movement of the Der Schwanendreher. The tone quality in the Kashkashian Kammermusik is far superior.