JAVS Fall 2003

By David 0. Brown

Hobson more compelling. This CD is a must for Bartok and viola enthusiasts, however... Tully Potter, Strad Bjarne Brustad: Fantull Suite; Eventyr Suite; Sonata #3, Four Caprizzi; Lars Anders Tomter, viola; S0lve Sigerland, violin; Simax PSC 1229 rienced with a gruff, Bartokian humor; They join the Mozart vio lin and viola duos in a genre poor ly represented... Simax has given them an excellent sound... This one is well worth your attention. Martin Anderson, Strad Clarke: Viola sonata; I'll Bid My Heart Be Still; Midsummer Morn; Passacaglia; Morpheaus; Untitled; Chinese Puzzle, Lullaby (1907); Lullaby (1913); Daniela Kohner, viola; Holger Binder, piano; Coviello Classics 50202 Kohner's performances are never less than competent... provides a nice overview of Clarke's composi tions for her own instrument. Carlos Maria Solare, Strad The Devil's Thrill: Tartini: Sonata for Violin and Keyboard "The Devil's Trill"; LeClair: Sonata for Violin Op.9 #5; Locatelli: Sonata for Violin and Keyboard Op.6 #12; Paganini: Sonata #1; Mela Tenenbaum, vio- ...The Four Caprizzi for violin and viola enjoy Mozartean levity, expe

who plays with great elan. Another recording to add to your list.

Bach: Sonata for Violin and Continue (BWV 1023); Beethoven: Sonata Op. 24 (Kreutzer); Kreisler: Preludium and Allegro; Cavatina; Gypsy Caprice; Bach: Prelude from Partita #3 (BWV 1006); Oscar Shumsky, violin; Robin Sutherland, Piano; Vestige Classics At a recent meeting with Eric Shumsky, Oscar's son, one of the world's great violists, he gave me this CD of a live concert his father gave in Berkeley, CA in 1982. I list it here not only because of Oscar's superlative performance but main ly because he was selected by William Primrose as first violinist with the Primrose Quartet when he was still in his 20s. Most people regard that quartet as one of the finest groups that ever performed. The sound is excellent and you will hear Oscar announce the final Bach piece in his beautiful speak ing voice. If you are a lover of fine string playing you must put this disk in your collection.

Bartok: Viola Concerto; Cantata Profana; Four Slovak Folk ~ongs, Folk Songs; Eight Choruses; William Primrose, viola; New Symphony Orchestra, Tibor Serly, conductor; Concert Choir; Margaret Hillis, conductor; and others. Bartok Records 1309 Even if you have the excellent LP of this first recording of the Bartok Viola Concerto with Mr. Primrose you certainly will want to get this remastered version with some added works for chorus. I have lived with the LP for over 40 years and always thought it as a supreme achievement in recorded sound. There are at least two new editions of the viola concerto, the last work written by Bartok and left in pieces to be constructed by Mr. Serly with help from Mr. Primrose. One is arranged by Peter Bartok and Paul Neubauer and another by Csaba Erdelyi. I still think that this recording by Mr. Primrose as being most dear to my heart. Bartok: (Ed. Erdelyi) Viola Concerto; Berlioz: Harold in Italy; Csaba Erdelyi, viola; New Zealand Orchestra, Marc Taddei, conductor. Concordance 03 ...His (Erdelyi's) performance is an absolute cracker... I find the per formance of the Liszt version (of Harold) with the splendid Ian

Bach: Six Cello Suites; Erik Shumsky, viola; Vestige Classics (2 record set)

I regard this accomplishment by Mr. Shumsky as top notch playing. Mr. Primrose regarded the 6th Suite as all but unplayable; this has little trepidation for Mr. Shumsky

VOLUME 19

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