Customer Reviews

Vieuxtemps: Music for Viola and Piano - Sonata Op.36 / Unfinished Sonata Op. Post

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Roberto, recently retired principal violist of Philadelphia Orchestra, is one of the finest violists in the US and in the world. He does really nice things with everything on this recording. I also strongly recommend his recording of Paganini guitar/strings pieces and his recent recording of Primrose arrangements.

The Vieuxtemps viola sonata is not a great piece, and especially the third movement is probably impossible to pull off really successfully because it's so poorly composed. Despite that, Roberto does a better job of making it sound good than anyone else I've ever heard. The piece isn't really worth recording on its own, but it is nice to have a complete CD of all the Vieuxtemps viola works. The Cappricio and the Elegie are performed very beautifully on this recording. Incidentally, if you're looking for other good recordings of these pieces there is also another very lovely recording of the Elegie by Laurent Verney on his "L'Alto Romantique" disc.

In this CD , Roberto Diaz maybe playing a different instrument than the Primrose Viola in the Primrose Transcriptions.William Primrose: Viola Transcriptions. The recording has greater clarity and depth. The instrument has a far better lower register. The piano is better balanced.

My review of Diaz' playing:
Roberto's playing is definitive in virtuosity. It is as if, in his hands, his instrument has lungs and a tongue. He can sing and change timbre four times in one bow leaving one breathless! Flawless virtuosity, yet with soul. Roberto neither leaves you warn out from too much sentimentality, nor wanting for soul and musicality amid "so many notes." Never mechanical. Roberto Diaz is a legend in our own time.

I'm excited to be here now at this vibrant time in music history.
This recording will now be as timeless as it is priceless.
-Robert C Nimmich

If you are anything like me, you crave more recordings of works by Vieuxtemps.

I am not familiar with the soloist on this disk but whoever it is is totally incredible: flawless intontion, a lush and expressive vibrato and amazingly elegant phrasing. Not even for one second was there ever a time I was unsatisfied listening to this recording, I can only give it my highest recommendation.

Because the performance is so great and the sound quality is high and because of the low price, this cd should be irresistable to anyone craving new sounds.

A beautiful piece, superbly played and superbly recorded.