Franck: Sonata for violin in A; Elgar: Sonata for violin in Em

Edward Elgar (Composer), Cesar Franck (Composer), Midori (Performer), Robert McDonald (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Midori, Robert McDonald
• Composer: Edward Elgar, Cesar Franck
• Audio CD (October 7, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000029ZE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #24,046 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

  #28 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( E ) > Elgar, Sir Edward
  #1 in	Music > Classical > Featured Performers, A-Z > ( M ) > Midori
  #30 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( F ) > Franck, César

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After a period of semiretirement due to personal problems, Midori returns with this marvelous recital. The Franck sonata is, after Beethoven's Kreutzer, the best known--and just plain best--work for violin and piano. The finale features a tune so completely beautiful that you hardly even notice Franck's ingenious, strictly contrapuntal treatment of it each time in returns. Midori's performance of the sonata is both probing and intimate. What's more, the rarely performed Elgar work offers a singularly apt coupling that raises the entire recital to a very special level of distinction. Let's hope that this excellent violinist enjoys a smooth career from here on out. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars simply great music, November 2, 2000

By	"music_head" (San Francisco, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Franck: Sonata for violin in A; Elgar: Sonata for violin in Em (Audio CD)

What a great violinist.

Midori takes Elgar's Sonata with passion. It's simply breath-taking. I can see some inteligence here... but how delicate it is. Their interplay creates dimension, and silence comes so strong between the notes. When the central melody of the 2nd Movement comes back in the 3rd movement, it becomes truly a moving moment.

I give a credit to her Franck. It is very introspective. She takes a very long stride, instead of playing phrase by phrase she slowly and gradually opens the music. When it reveals strong emotion once a while then it becomes truly meaningful. She's got a point there. It struck my mind so strong.

I strongly recommend this disc. To any classical music listener.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars for Elgar and 4 stars for Franck, February 17, 2000

By	A Classical Fan "a_new_yorker" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Franck: Sonata for violin in A; Elgar: Sonata for violin in Em (Audio CD)

This is the most convincing and most gorgeous Elgar I 've ever heard. She expresses the inner emotion of the music so well. Intense opening and drama of the first movement, slowly evolving emotion in the second movement and eloquence of the 3rd movement, every detail is well considered and structured, yet they let the music grow and flow. Her tonal beauty (sensitive but warm pearly tone) comes so strong in 2nd and 3rd movements. Midori's Elgar makes all the other recordings of Elgar somewhat pale. Oh, by the way, her accompanist is great.

My personal opinion for Midori's Franck's sonata is that it sounds somewhat lacking in something. I think she tackled this one in the same manner as in Elgar. I still think the best choice for Franck is Kyung Wha Chung & Radu Lupu from Decca. Chung really lets the air come through with her deeply felt emotion and her silvery tone (kinda reminds me of autumn leaves) beautifully works with the music. In Midori's case, her linear readings miss capturing the atmosphere. She sounds like she is thinking about the structure rather than feeling the music.

Well, overall, This CD is worth buying even just to listen to Elgar.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well put together album; romantic melodrama, April 22, 2007

By	-Ashi- (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Franck: Sonata for violin in A; Elgar: Sonata for violin in Em (Audio CD)

Some reviewers may have commented on how Midori's Franck compares to her own Elgar, but take the whole album wholly: it's a rather consistent and well put together album. The Elgar piece transits to the Franck's Sonata rather fluently. The style of the two pieces congruent.

While I am not going to contest with other reviewers' criticism on Midori's interpretation on Franck, but listen very closely toward the end of the third movement. The melancholy wailing of the violin is /dying/ for attention. I've heard other musicians doing the piece, everyone else played straight and let piano concluded the drama. NOT this version! The violin's wailing suddenly takes a turn toward south, and with your ears, you could see the queen of the tragedy falls on the stage. Piano reverberates. Curtains close. The unsettling silence before the grand ovation. It's all good.