JAVS Fall 2000

71

RECORD REVIEWS

William Primrose: 1947 RCA Recordings; Bach: Beethoven: Mendelssohn: Saint-Saens: and nine other short viola compositions; William Primrose, viola; David Stimer, piano; Biddulph 80147-2 Review: I remember collecting on 78 RPM in my early years many of the compositions played on this disc. Two, however, are new to me and I am hearing them for the first time. They are both by Milhaud and are called Lema and Ipanema. It's wonderful to have these short compositions available again for a new genera tion to hear. Primrose's tone, technique, phras ing, and innate musicianship make this reissue indispensable to all lovers of great viola playing. William Primrose Collection: Vol. 2; Brahms: Sonata for Viola #1, #2; Boccherini: Sonata #6 for Viola and Piano; Paganini: Caprice #24; Kreisler: Policinelle; Foster: I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair; Tchaikovsky: Andante Cantabile; Doremi DHR7722 Review: The Armed Forces Radio Service was responsible for the shorter compositions. They were recorded about 1943. I believe RCA Victor and HMV were responsible for the two Brahms sonatas. Primrose was to record them in the 1950s with Rudolph Firkusny for Capitol. Jacob Harnoy has lovingly restored these gems to modern CD. Don't think about it too long-these reissues have a way of dis appearing too quickly. Rawsthorne: Sonata for Viola; Piano Quintet; Concertante; Piano Trio; Cello Sonata; Helen Roberts, viola; Martin Outram: viola; Peter Adams, cello; Yoshiko Endo, piano; Julian Routham, piano; Naxos 8.554352 Saxton: A Yardstick to the Stars and other Chamber Works; Paul Silverthorne, viola; Joan Constable, piano; Brunel Ensemble; Christopher Austin, conductor; NMC NMCD 065 Review: The players communicate this com plex and rewarding music with clarity and real understanding. A highly recommended recording. -Catherine Nelson, Strad

Casimir Escoffier) who died on February 3, 1877 at the age of 76. My friend said that he heard that someone had recorded the preludes written in all the keys a la Bach. He also said upon examining the music he found it impossi ble to play. I guess that Mr. Shumsky felt, as many do, that the difficult is done now and the impossible takes a little longer. I have heard four-finger left-hand pizzicato, notes seemingly above the capability of the viola, other technical wizardry I'm not even sure how to describe. Needless to say I felt out of breath hearing this devilish music. Escoffier was called the Paganini of the viola. You deserve to hear this superlative and extraordinary playing. The two disks have 43.11 and 48.35 minutes of music respectively. Surely with almost an hour of space available on the records Mr. Shumsky could have included some of the caprices of Paganini as well or pos sibly found more works by Ney. Roslavetz: Sonatas for Viola and Piano #1, #2; Shostakovich: Sonata for Piano and Viola; Victoria Chiang, viola; Randall Hodgkinson; Centaur CRC 2450 Review: I have always looked forward to receiv ing recordings of violists with whom I'm not familiar. Ms. Chiang is an artist-faculty mem ber of the Peabody Conservatory of Music and has had an extensive career of performing and teaching. When I first saw the disc I thought "Roslavetz-who?" It turns out that the politi cians in the Soviet Union relegated Roslavetz to oblivion. He is a major composer, certainly the equal of the more famous Shostakovich, whose last composition-the Sonata for Viola and Piano-is also played by Ms. Chiang on this disc. I asked Ms. Chiang a couple of questons before writing this review. One was what kind of viola did she play? I expected to hear she played an instrument that was at least 100 years old since it had a lovely tone throughout its entire range. I was very surprised to hear it was made by Etienne Vatelot in Paris in 1997. I also asked her if she had ever worked before with Mr. Hodgkinson. She mentioned that her con ductor husband had worked with him before and that he heartily endorsed the pianist to her. I was quite impressed with their total blend and their agreement of style. Ms. Chiang is a daring and consummate artist of whom, I'm sure, we shall hear much more in the future.

Schumann: Maerchenbilder; Brahms: Sonata for Viola Op. 120 #2; Barroso: Viola