JAVS Fall 2002

95

REcoRDING REviEWS

by David 0. Brown

a revealing odyssey. John Constable is with him hand and glove. -William Zagorski, Fanfare

Bach: (Arr. by Nagy) Violin Sonata No. 1; Adagio and Fugue No. 2; Grave and Fugue No. 3; Adagio and Fugue; Violin Partita No. 2; Chaconne; Bartok: (Arr. by Nagy) Solo Violin Sonata; Fugue; Ligeti: Solo Viola Sonata; Chaconne Chromatique; Penderecki: Cadenza for Viola; Zimmermann: Solo Viola Sonata. Vidor Nagy, viola. Cadenza CAD 800 913 Review: ... How do Bach's Sonatas and Partitas sound on the viola, then? Something like a strange hybrid between the Violin Sonatas and the Cello Suites. I find the result fascinating and often mov ing.... A pity then that Nagy should have decided to play only samples ... which I find somewhat frustrating. Technically (he) is a competent violist, but no more....-Ed Reich, Fanfare Bax: Concert Piece; Fantasy Sonata; Legend; Viola Sonata. lvo-Jan Van Der Werpf, viola; Simon Marlow, piano; Hugh Weiss, harp. Koch Schwann 3-676 Review: Van Der Werpf ... and Marlow gener ate a satisfying rapport . . . for the lovely Fantasy Sonata from 1927...Van Der Werpf teams up with harpist Hugh Weiss to give a sparkling and poetic performance...This is a supremely enjoyable survey. -Andrew Achenbach, Gramophone Invocations: Contemporary Viola Works: R. Rodney Bennett: After Ariadne; Musgrave: In the Still of the Night; Lutyens: Echo of the Wind; Saxton: Invocation, Dance and Meditation; Hawkins: Urizen; Payne: Amid the Winds of Evening; Matthews: Oscuro; Woolrich: Three Pieces for Viola; Kampela: Bridges; Tionesu: Odd Job. Paul Silverthorne, viola; John Constable, piano. Black Box BBM BBM Review: . . . Paul Silverthorne is more than a champion of the viola. He is a champion of the music of our time. His technical achievement is of a level wherein any challenge thrown in his path can be vaulted with ease ... (He) makes each piece

Bloch: Suite for Viola and Orchestra; Schelomo Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra. Milton Katims, viola; Laszlo Varga, cello; Seattle Symphony Orchestra; Henry Siegl and Siegfried Landau, conductors. Carlton Classics 30371 00472 Review: This record was compiled by Carlton Classics in 1996 under license from Vox Turnabout. Mr. Katims, the eminent violist and conductor, recorded the Suite in 1975 at the age of 66. I am most happy to report that Mr. Katims was photographed on his birthday last June playing tennis at the age of93. What I'm most distressed at is the disappointment at not having more of his solo work recorded. Try to find this disk at Berkshire Records in Massachusetts or from Carlton Classics in Elstree, Hertfordshire, England. This disk is superb and essential. Bruch: Concerto for Violin and Viola; Eight Pieces for Violin, Viola and Piano. Miguel da Sylva, viola; Guillaume Sutre, violin; Bruno Fontaine, piano; Orchestre Brentagne; Stefan Sanderling, conduc tor. Transart TR 105 Review: The concerto for clarinet and viola ... does exist in an alternate version where the com poser gave the option of replacing the clarinet with a violin. Miguel da Sylva and Guillaume Sutre ... their playing a pure joy throughout, with warm and perfectly focused tone which proves ideal for a score that above all requires charm ... the disc is completed by further transcription of the eight pieces originally scored for clarinet, viola and piano ... it is the gorgeous performance that breathes life into them, the trio creating an admirable balance. -David Denton, Strad

Bruch: Concerto for Clarinet, Viola and Orchestra; Mendelssohn: Concert Pieces; Introduction,