Max Reger: Three Sonatas For Unaccompanied Violin

Max Reger (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Max Reger
• Audio CD (August 14, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dorian Recordings
• ASIN: B000001Q9N
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,544 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #54 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Reger, Max

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Behold The New Bach !!!, August 5, 2003

By 

Scott68 (Columbus, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Max Reger: Three Sonatas For Unaccompanied Violin (Audio CD)

This is a CD I saw at the library but somehow didn't get around to listening to until recently. I am in love with these sonatas, the overtones of Bach and Paganini are undeniable. I can say without hesitation these are the best sonatas for solo violin written after Paganini's time. The music is rich with polyphonic layers that will delight and please anyone with a reasonable ear and especially the seasoned veteran musician looking for new great music. The a minor chaconne is a wonderful masterpiece to be savored and endulge in.

Ulrike-Anima Mathe was a prize winner at the 1985 Menuhin competition, among other credentials. Her violin is a very bright sounding Amati violin.

To describe her playing would take a few sentences to describe. Her intonation is excellent, I would say her playing is romantic but never overly so, with a lush vibrato that is not too wide and is used tastefully, complimenting the music but not smothering it with sweetness. She has a stong sence of dynamics and is able to create drama by being in control of volume and bowing styles to accent the more important phrases in a very singing-like manor. I would say the playing is inspired although I find that maybe at times her tempo may be rushed just a little bit. It seems obvious Ms Mathe likes this music because there is always a great affection for the composer and the music between the notes.

For me, this is a five star recording, if you like this cd make sure to get volume two.

I can imagine some of this music being used as an audition piece or as an encore and I encourage all violinists to study these great sonatas as they surely should be played more.

5.0 out of 5 stars Retro Bach - and that is high praise indeed, March 4, 2010

By 

G. Bell "teacher" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Max Reger: Three Sonatas For Unaccompanied Violin (Audio CD)

If you love Bach as I do, there is something very Beethovenish about these sonatas: the lonely soul coursing, raging, staring time down through the night. It is bold, intimate, soulful and alone music. Very much the flavor of Bach's solo cello suites or Bach's solo violin work. Reger idolized Bach so, let us be happy he imitated him so well. Lines a bit flater, more melodic, ahem, "modern" but quite wonderful. Bach is Titan. Reger is man.

Still, there are people who can't forgive Reger or Hindemith for loving polyphony and counterpoint. Too bad for them.

My review is a bit of a cheat. I got the 2 cd Opus 91 sonatas, so this disk and another in a two-fer case - yes that horrible cheap cardboard "case".

I'm surprised the violinist is so young. My copy only has Reger's face on the cover. I'm glad I listened to it first before finding out because my expectations shape my ear. If she records them again in 30 years that could be blazing. As it is, first class stuff.

5.0 out of 5 stars Max Reger: Three Reger Sonatas opus 91 For Unaccompanied Violin with Ulrike-Anime Mathe on violin., September 5, 2008

By 

Jacob Litoff (Millis, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Max Reger: Three Sonatas For Unaccompanied Violin (Audio CD)

I really enjoy practicing these unaccompanied violin sonatas by Max Reger opus 91. Like the Paganini caprices and the Bach unaccompanied sonatas and partitas these are great pieces for keeping ones fingers in shape and lots of fun to play. I think on this CD she has made a wonderful recording of these pieces. She plays them quite musically. I wish I could find the second CD with the other four sonatas on them, for Sonata opus 91 #5, which is on it, is my favorite of these. Opus 91 #2, which is on this CD is my second favorite. This is a very nice recording.