good recording of Bartok's Violin Sonatas

[O Delvig]

I have yet to purchase any recordings of these great works, so it's about time. Any recommendations? I'm referring to the violin and piano sonatas, though I love that sonata for solo violin as well!

Oh, and let it be known, I like my Bartok rough! Absolutely no smoothing over 

[bhodges]

I have Tetzlaff and Andsnes and think it is pretty fantastic, but I don't know whether it will satisfy your final criterion  .  But it's a superb recording.



--Bruce

[lukeottevanger]

I used to listen to an LP of Hyman Bress in these pieces which really struck a chord with me, and which certainly had the rough edges you describe. Nowadays I actually tend to go for the Naxos readings - (the Hungarians) Pauk and Jando (Pauk a noted Bartokian). The sonatas are coupled with Contrasts (w. Kalman Berkes); on another Naxos discs Pauk's reading of the solo violin sonata is coupled with the 44 duos. (Rounding off the Naxos discs nicely is Pauk's reading of the Violin Concerti)

[m_gigena]

Just one sonata here, but it's interesting anyway

[carlos]

Oistrakh recorded the 2; first with Frida Bauer and second with Richter. But they are on different CDs.

[BorisG]

I like Kremer (Hungaroton), Tetzlaff, Faust (separate discs), and Mutter (#2). Edgy does not compute for me.

[Harry Collier]

Isabelle Faust on Harmonia Mundi. Very excellent performances.

[The new erato]

Sorry for the thread drift; but anyone liking these works should as a matter of urgency hear Enescus sonatas,  eg this Hyperion Helios reissue:



I seem to remember that the Bartokis available in a good performance by Pauk on Naxos as well as all the classics mentioned above.

[val]

I have the splendid version of Isaac Stern and Zakin.

Regarding the first Sonata, the recent version of Laurent Korcia and Bavouzet is more subtle and is included in a double CD with the Contrasts, the 2nd Violin Concerto and, above all, the best version I ever heard of the beautiful Sonata for solo violin. 

[Harry Collier]

Regarding the first Sonata, the recent version of Laurent Korcia and Bavouzet is more subtle and is included in a double CD with the Contrasts, the 2nd Violin Concerto and, above all, the best version I ever heard of the beautiful Sonata for solo violin. 

I agree with Korcia. I forgot I had this. An excellent version (though I'm not really terribly fond of Bartok's violin muisc).

[Josquin des Prez]

eg this Hyperion Helios reissue:

Never mind that. Anybody interested in Enescu should make an effort and track down the recordings made by the composer himself.

[dirkronk]

Never mind that. Anybody interested in Enescu should make an effort and track down the recordings made by the composer himself.

You're right, but did he actually record all his own sonatas? And if so, are they available? Enquiring and acquisitive types want to know!

Fact is, the search for ANY Enescu performances from his early days as a violinist is easier said than done. After three years and--ultimately--the great kindness of an online friend, I was able to get a copy of the old Philips set that included Enescu and Lipatti doing Enescu's suite #1 op.3 (excerpts), suite #2  op.10 (excerpts), sonata #3 op.25, sonata #2 op.6, suite #1 op.9, bourree from suite #2 for piano op.10--plus some piano stuff with Lipatti alone. But that's the extent of Enescu-does-Enescu that I've been able to find.

I did finally obtain a copy of the still-OOP Biddulph CD of Enescu's complete Columbia recordings (why didn't Biddulph reissue this during its recent renaissance?), though this doesn't include him doing his own works. I also have the Bach double concerto with Menuhin, the Chausson poeme, the later and widely-available recording of Bach sonatas and partitas, and a rather sad late live performance of the Beethoven concerto, though the less said about that the better.

And that's it.

Maybe someone else here (you, JdP? Harry Collier? Cheniston? others?) will reveal an Enescu treasure trove that's eluded me...I've heard rumors of some private and radio recordings, and one can always hope...but I haven't found much beyond what I've listed above.

Cheers,

Dirk

[Harry Collier]

Fact is, the search for ANY Enescu performances from his early days as a violinist is easier said than done. After three years and--ultimately--the great kindness of an online friend, I was able to get a copy of the old Philips set that included Enescu and Lipatti doing Enescu's suite #1 op.3 (excerpts), suite #2  op.10 (excerpts), sonata #3 op.25, sonata #2 op.6, suite #1 op.9, bourree from suite #2 for piano op.10--plus some piano stuff with Lipatti alone. But that's the extent of Enescu-does-Enescu that I've been able to find.

I did finally obtain a copy of the still-OOP Biddulph CD of Enescu's complete Columbia recordings (why didn't Biddulph reissue this during its recent renaissance?), though this doesn't include him doing his own works. I also have the Bach double concerto with Menuhin, the Chausson poeme, the later and widely-available recording of Bach sonatas and partitas, and a rather sad late live performance of the Beethoven concerto, though the less said about that the better.

And that's it.

Yes; that is, I believe, it. Someone sent me an "off-air" Beethoven violin concerto from around 1938. But the violinist was in Romania and the tape recorder seemed to be in Australia so even I, usually very tolerant, gave up pretty quickly. One of the very greatest violinists of the 20th century was caught only very briefly in his prime (around 1915-25).

[karlhenning]

I have the splendid version of Isaac Stern and Zakin.

Ditto.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

A hearty third for the Korcia/Bavouzet pairing.

[val]

Josquin des Prez

Never mind that. Anybody interested in Enescu should make an effort and track down the recordings made by the composer himself.

I agree with you. In special because Enescu's 3rd Violin Sonata is, to me, the best of the XX century.

It is curious but Enescu played Bartok Sonatas with the composer. In an occasion, both travelled ensemble by train to perform next day one of the Sonatas. Enescu didn't know the work. So, he studied the work that night, in the train, and next day he remembered everything and played it with Bartok, who was completely amazed. It has been said that Enescu had one of the most prodigious musical memories ever known.

[snyprrr]

This thread is going no where.



The Good-Music-Guide recommends ONLY the Robert Mann, which I've never seen. This particular article is pretty brutal against everyone else.

I have Josefowicz on Philips, nothing to compare it to.

Anyone?

[karlhenning]

Somewhere, I have a disc with Isaac Stern playing these . . . not sure I've yet listened to it, though . . . .

[Opus106]

Somewhere, I have a disc with Isaac Stern playing these . . .

True; you agreed with val that it's a splendid recording. 

[Mandryka]

This rather famous recording with Bartok and Szigeti is well worth having.


There's a story that Szigeti met Bartok off the boat when he moved to America and told him they were playing a concert in a few days. "What's the programme?" asked Bartok ""Oh," replied Szigeti, "Kreutzer, Debussy and a couple of your thngs."

And here it is.