JAVS Fall 1998

73

Patricia Pollett, viola; Queensland Philhar monic Orchestra; Werner Andreas Albert, conducting; Tall Poppies TP084 Review: This disk (with the remarkable Queens land Philharmonic Orchestra which com prises 31 musicians yet sounds like it has more than twice that number) also shows off the wonderful talents of Patricia Pollett-a young virtuoso who is willing to take chances with old favorites and present a new composi tion by a little known (at least in this coun try) Australian composer, Nigel Sabin. It may be disconcerting to some to hear the familiar sonatas of Brahms and Schubert with orches tral accompaniment, but I rather enjoyed them. The arrangements were made by Lu ciano Berio and Robert Davidson. Shorter compositions by Bruch and Nigel Sabin ad mirably fill out the disc. Pollett has wonderful technique and the ability to change her tone quality in order to fit the mood of the music. I recommend both disks wholeheartedly and commend Pollett for her daring, her imagination, and her innate musicianship. She is a violist of international quality and I eagerly await her future endeavors. -David 0. Brown, Brentwood, New York From journals (The Strad): Bruni: Viola Sonatas op. 27; Farulli, An tonello, viola; Francesco Dillon, cello; Gabriele Micheli, harpsichord and fortepiano; Dynamis S 2005 Beach: Music for violin/viola and piano; Klugherz, Laura, viola; Jill Timmons, piano; Centaur CRC 2312 Viola Pieces by Violin Virtuosi: rarely heard works by Wieniawski, Joachim, Vieuxtemps and Hubay; Xuereb, Pierre-Henri, viola; Luc Devos, piano; Classic Talent DOM 2910 12 The Strad also lists two complete discographies in recent issues. The June 1998 issue includes a list of recordings by Pinchas Zukerman on pp. 654-668. The September issue lists

the recordings of Yehudi Menuhin on pp. 994-1006. Recommendations from the Viola Internet list: L'Alto Romantique - The Romantic Viola I Laurent Verney. Release Date: 02/94 Num of Discs: 1 Length: 60 minutes; Label Pierre Ve rany (FRA) PV793121 SPARS code: DDD (It is on CDNow at: http://www.cdnow.com) This CD has Andante and Rondo Ungarese for Viola and Orchestra in C, Carl Maria von Weber; Marchenbilder for Viola and Piano, op. 113, Robert Schumann; Potpourri for Viola and Orchestra in G-minor, op. 94 Fantasia, Johann Nepomuk Hummel; Piece for Viola and Piano inC-major, op. 39, Ernest Chaus son; Elegie for Viola and Piano, op. 30, Vieux temps; Elegie for Viola and Piano in G-minor, op. 44, Glazunov (1856-1936); Apres un reve, op. 7 no. 1, Gabriel Faure. -Ronald Schmidt, Germany Hummel Fantasia recording I have a recording of this played by Ger ard Causse on viola. The Hummel fantasy is fine, but I'm really wowed by a Joseph Schu bert viola concerto on same CD, both the playing and composing are-wow!! What an amazingly lovely piece and impressive playing. If I may put in another plug for Gerard Causse-he recorded the string trio version of J. S. Bach's Goldberg Variations (transcribed to string trio by Dimitri Sitovetsky)-Dimitri on violin, Gerard on viola, (I've forgotten who was on violincello). Identification is Orfeo OYF138852 and it's an utter jewel. I prefer it a thousand times to any keyboard version (and am sure it must be crisper sound than the washy-full orchestra version). Of course, purists will object in howls. Bah. -P. Wins/owe Lacesso, Calgary, Canada I recently discovered an excellent CD in the "orchestra_pro_series" of Summit Records (DCD 217, 1997): Orchestral excerpts for viola with spoken commentary by Robert Vernon, principal violist of the Cleveland Orchestra.