JAVS Summer 2001

57

I

RECORD REVIEW

by David 0. Brown

Bloch: Suite Hebraique; Concertina for Flute, Viola and Piano; Suite for Viola; Suite for Viola and Piano; Paul Cortese, viola; Michael Wagemans, piano; Maarika Jaarvi, flute. ASV CD DCA1094 Review: . ..the problem here is violist Paul Cortese's pinched and inelegant tone ... one to pass by I'm afraid ... -Martin Anderson, Fanfare Brahms: Trio for Viola, Cello and Piano; Quintet for Viola and String Quartet; Yizhak Schotten, viola; Katherine Collier, piano; David Hardy, cello; Chester String Quartet. Crystal Records CD832 Review: A few months ago I read some where that Russian violist Yuri Bashmet had recorded the Brahms Quintet with viola and string orchestra, if I read it correctly. Here Mr. Schotten has taken the quintet and used Brahms' alternate scoring for viola and string quartet. The clarinet (viola) sonatas are sta ples of the repertoires of violists and clar inetists. These are the first versions of the trio and quintet where the viola substitutes for the clarinet. Mr. Schotten has always been a challeng ing artist and I eagerly await his new projects. He has expanded the repertoire and the love and sensitivity he has for the viola should gain him even more respect and admiration from the listener. His wife, Katherine Collier, is a most able associate with her blended tone with the strings. The Chester String Quartet, all full-time faculty members of the presti gious Indiana University, are an excellent young chamber group. Another triumph for Mr. Schotten. Bruch: Eight Pieces for Viola, Clarinet and Piano; Clarke: Prelude, Allegro, and Pastorale for Clarinet and Viola; Jesse Levine, viola; Jerry Kirkbride, clarinet; Rex Woods, piano. Summit DCD 259 (Allegro)

Reviewer's Note: David Dalton has informed me that the Biddulph disk that contains William Primrose's performance of the Bach Suites and other works, which had been deleted, has been restored to the catalogue. The number ofthe album is Lab 131/2. American Viola Works: Rochberg: Sonata for Viola and Piano; Jacobi: Fantasy for Viola and Piano; Liebermann: Sonata for Viola and Piano; Shulman: Theme and Variations; Porter: Speed Etude; Cathy Basrak, viola; William Koehler, Robert Koenig, piano. Cedille CDR 90000 053. Review: Cathy Basrak, who made this recording in 1999 and 2000 while a student at Curtis Institute, shows us why the Boston Symphony Orchestra selected her as Assistant Principal and Principal Violist of the Boston Pops at age 22. She is a finished superior artist. Playing on a 16th-century Gaspar da Salo viola lent to her by Curtis Institute she displays all the warmth, technique, and sensi tivity to play anything she desires. A friend who plays in the viola section of the BSO and was a member of the audition panel told me he had never heard a better performance. The American compositions she has selected are all extremely fine works that show off her extraordinary talent. I can't wait to hear her next issue. My hearty congratulations to Ms. Basrak and for the foresight of Cedille Records. Additional review: This new CD reveals her to be a major talent, with technique, tem perament and taste ... -Raymond Tuttle, Fanfare Magazine From a Fanfare Interview: ... I was deeply moved, not only by the excellence of her play ing, which is stunning, ... but by the works themselves. This disk, I knew right away, was the work of one exceptional artist ... is defi nitely going to be a powerful voice for her instrument. -Lynnda Greene, Fanfare Magazine