JAVS Fall 2005

RECORDING REVIEWS

by Sel Kardan

collaborative pianist Arrur Balsam in a 1966 performance of the Hindemid1 Op. 11, No. 4 sonam. Kroyr, who joined d1e quartet in 1936 and died in 1969, was a child prodigy violinist who left his child hood home in Russia to study in Berlin in me first decade of the twemied1 centuty. He had no for mal viola training and seldom per formed outside of the quartet set ting, so me two live recordings the 1960's at the Libraty ofCongress arc particularly valuable. Pianist Balsam was Nathan Milstein's favor ite recital partner for many years and also performed with other ming luminaries of the period while maintai ning a solo career. Kroyt offers an impassioned, roman tic performance of d1e Op. 11 #4 Sonata wid1 strong support &om Balsam . Recorded when Kroyr was almost 70, only d1ree years before his dea.th, this live record ing makes a mong case for Kroyt as an outstand ing musician and brilliant techni cian. Kroyr produces a dear, power fu l, tenor sound with his instrument ~md attacks me sonata wid1 astonish ing warmd1 and vigor. This reviewer wishes Kroyr had devoted more time solo performance. Even wid1 me many fine recordings ofOp. ll #4 made in d1e last rwen ty years, this historic live rendition belongs in cvc•y Hindemid1 collection. Also included on this di sc is the horn trio of Bral1ms and Shostakovich's piano quintet born in live performances from the early

50s also in Coolidge Auditorium at the Libraty of Congress.

An embarrassment of riches in our Fall recording reviews. Everything from historic recordi ngs featuring Boris Kroyr and Karen Turtle to a trio new of recordings on ECM featuring contemporary com posers. The incredible legacy of William Primrose continues in sev eral new CDs that feature his stu dents, his transcriptions, and works dedicated to him. Chamber music, viola concertos, viola duos, and solo viola, it's all here! Please continue to send your recordings to the AVS office for review. Also, contact us if you have difficulty obtaining reviewed reco rdings. The Budapest String Quartet with Artur Balsam, piano and John Barrows, horn Paul Hindemith Sonata, Op. ll No.4 Boris Kroyr, viola Arrur Balsam, piano Recorded .live in Coolidge Auditorium at the Libnuy of Congress, March 4, 1966

Soaring Spirit

Music ofTchaikovsky, Benjamin, Schubert, Brahms, Milhaud, Rochberg, and Shulman

Joseph de Pasquale, viola Angclin C hang, piano

Albany Records 2004 TROY 7 l 5

Joseph de Pasquale has been a force on the international viola scene for over five decades. As a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral play er, and pedagogue, de Pasquale's legacy includes numerous record ings, commissioned and dedica ted works, editions of standard reperto- •y, and students who perform worldwide. This CD, recorded in 2002, pays tribute to de Pasquale's teacher William Primrose th rough mree transcriptions by Primrose himself, and two works dedic.:1ted to him- Arthur Benjamin's light hearted From San Domingo and me powerfully melodic Sonata for Viola and Piano( 1979) by American composer George Rochberg. Od1er works on the disc arc prolific French composer Darius M ilhaud's First Viola Sonata (1 944), and Baltimore born composer Alan Shulman's Theme and Variations ( 1940) .

Bridge Records 2005 Bridge 9175

T he live recordings made by the Budapest String Quartet at d1e Library of Congress between 1940 and 1962 have long held a special place in me hearts of chamber music aficionados. This very attrac tive disc features longtime Budapest violist Boris Kroyr and renowned

De Pasquale presents the minia tw-es wid1 straightforward old-

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