Brahms violin sonatas

[Luke]

There seems to be some kind of consensus around Grumiaux and Suk, and it's one I go long with wholly - discs of these three wonderful masterpieces, which make such a rewarding sequence, are gems almost by definition, but those two are the cream for me, with Grumiaux slightly higher than Suk.

[North Star]

Listening to Kremer from Spotify, this is excellent playing (not that this is a surprise). Comparing with Osostowicz, Kremer is a lot more prominent compared to the pianist. Kremer doesn't use as much pressure on the bow as Osostowicz, resulting in smoother playing. Vibrato is rather similar. Kremer is quite a bit slower in most of the movements, taking about twenty minutes more time in the three sonatas! Osostowicz drives through the sonatas, and it works, too. This is not unrelated to the pressure used on the bow.
Grumiaux is even faster, but by far the most elegant and his tone is smooth as one might expect of him. The instruments are balanced well. Grumiaux seems like an excellent version. The pianist's playing and pedaling is excellent and suits Grumiaux.
All three are excellent, and I would buy all of them if I had dispensable income

[DavidRoss]

Overall though my preference in these works is for the wonderful renditions by Mullova/Anderszewski on Philips.

Between that and the Rubinstein/Szerying disc below, I've never felt the need for any other.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Going slightly OT but I have to agree on Mullova, her Bach solo sonatas and partitas is a fantastic album.

I wish I had that one but with only so much time/$$ I haven't gotten to it yet. I do, however, have her Bach concerto disc and adore it.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Between that and the Rubinstein/Szerying disc below, I've never felt the need for any other.

That Szeryng/Rubinstein set looks great. I have Szeryng doing the Brahms concerto (w/ Monteux on RCA) and really enjoy his dexterity and improvisatory style.

[kishnevi]

The combination of instrument x and piano is actually one of my least favorite pairings--other than Beethoven, Bowen, Janacek, and Shostakovich, there's very little I enthuse over--but I've found this one satisfies me
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[Dancing Divertimentian]

Listening to Kremer from Spotify, this is excellent playing (not that this is a surprise). Comparing with Osostowicz, Kremer is a lot more prominent compared to the pianist. Kremer doesn't use as much pressure on the bow as Osostowicz, resulting in smoother playing. Vibrato is rather similar. Kremer is quite a bit slower in most of the movements, taking about twenty minutes more time in the three sonatas! Osostowicz drives through the sonatas, and it works, too. This is not unrelated to the pressure used on the bow.
Grumiaux is even faster, but by far the most elegant and his tone is smooth as one might expect of him. The instruments are balanced well. Grumiaux seems like an excellent version. The pianist's playing and pedaling is excellent and suits Grumiaux.
All three are excellent, and I would buy all of them if I had dispensable income

Those are some interesting observations. I have Osostowicz in a Bartok recital disc and see what you mean regarding her firmer style of playing. That's generally how Mullova plays, too. And it's this "grittier" style of playing that best suits my idea of the (ahem) "perfect" Brahms.

Brahms is nothing if not a sneaky fellow. His chamber works are filled with all sorts of unconventional gestures which come in all shapes and sizes and to capture all (or even a mighty handful!!) of them whilst keeping alive overall momentum is no doubt a herculean task. I enjoy musicians who can really light fire to these gestures and so far the team of Mullova/Anderszewski fulfills all my requirements for satisfying Brahms.

Which brings me to your comments regarding "smooth and/or elegant". To be honest the instant I hear those terms in connection with a Brahms performance (indeed, just about any performance) I doze. (Uh, oh...cannons in the background? ). Spontaneity whilst holding firm to overall structure is the name of the game for me.

Anyway, just thinking out loud...

[Brahmsian]

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I've heard the above and enjoyed it.  In fact, that was my first exposure to Brahms' violin sonatas.

I have the Pauk/Vignoles set on Brilliant Classics (from the Brahms' complete cube), and LOVE it!

Another interpretation I really, really enjoyed was Shlomo Mintz on violin and Itamar Golan on piano.  This set also includes Mintz and Golan doing the viola sonatas and the F.A.E. Sonata.

I would love it if our (my) local hero James Ehnes tackled the Brahms violin sonatas.  I feel that his smooth, mellow and restrained tone would be ideal (perhaps) for Brahms!   

[North Star]

I would love it if our (my) local hero James Ehnes tackled the Brahms violin sonatas.  I feel that his smooth, mellow and restrained tone would be ideal (perhaps) for Brahms!   

I would pretty much kill for that to happen.


DD:
Szeryng is an excellent violinist too, his recording with the Monte Carlo Orchestra of the Saint-Saens 3rd, Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso, Havanaise, and Tzigane is absolutely wonderful, the tone is amazing. I haven't heard his Brahms, though.

Re: Mullova's Bach, here's her Chaconne: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB14amsM3jo  and first sonata's fuga: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHrugLZrhTw, Siciliana: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_n323CH618

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Re: Mullova's Bach, here's her Chaconne: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB14amsM3jo  and first sonata's fuga: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHrugLZrhTw, Siciliana: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_n323CH618

Wow. Outstanding! Thanks, North Star.

[DavidRoss]

Wow. Outstanding! Thanks, North Star.

Don, I jumped on that one right away and it immediately became a fave, along with Podger and Zehetmair.  The chaccone clip should suffice to tell you why.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Don, I jumped on that one right away and it immediately became a fave, along with Podger and Zehetmair.  The chaccone clip should suffice to tell you why.

Thanks for the confirmation, Dave.

Damn, what I need is some birthday money...

[Dancing Divertimentian]

The combination of instrument x and piano is actually one of my least favorite pairings--other than Beethoven, Bowen, Janacek, and Shostakovich, there's very little I enthuse over.......

No room in your heart for duo works (x and piano) from, say, Ravel, Debussy, more Brahms (clarinet sonatas), Bartok....?

[kishnevi]

No room in your heart for duo works (x and piano) from, say, Ravel, Debussy, more Brahms (clarinet sonatas), Bartok....?

Not in my heart, only in my head.  That is to say,  I listen to them, and think them very good works, but in general that type of work doesn't connect with me the way other works do.  That's why I used the word "enthuse".   I like the Brahms Clarinet Sonatas.  But I like the Clarinet Trio and Quintet far more.  The Sonata I so far can connect to only on an intellectual level.  The others I can connect to at a deeper level.

[stingo]

One of my absolute favorite CDs...

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And you get the Hungarian Dances too!

[karlhenning]

And you get the Hungarian Dances too!

In whose arrangement? Just curious, thanks!

[Daverz]

What would one of these threads be without some pure unobtanium:



On a Connoiseur Society CD.

Amazon doesn't list it.  This cover is from a Japanese Wilkomirska discography.

[North Star]

In whose arrangement? Just curious, thanks!

Joseph Joachim arranged all 21 of the dances for violin/piano.

[Jared]

Likewise.

me too... 

[Geo Dude]

Thanks for the suggestions that have came in since my last post.  I've done some sampling and have added several to the wish list.  The Mullova Bach set was also a fine recommendation.

The Suk/Katchen disc came in.  Based on a couple of listens, it is perfect!  It has the 'autumnal' quality I was looking for, the tempos seem about right, Suk's tone is gorgeous, and there is something I love about Katchen's playing that I can't quite put my finger on, but it really rubs me the right way.  I haven't had a chance to properly compare it to the Grumiaux recording yet, but I'm pretty sure those two (along with a few supplementary recordings) will keep me happy for a long time.

By the way, for those interested in a modern set, the Ulf Wallin/Roland Pontinen set is a good one.  I'm not as fond of Wallin's tone as that of Grumiaux or Suk but the generally slower tempos he takes make for an interesting interpretation and it also includes the the two transcriptions of the clarinet sonatas for violin and piano.  Worth looking into.