This excellent disc from the French label Lyrinx offers two sets of extraordinary writing for the viola from Brahms and Schumann. Neither were stringed instrument players, yet each recognized, or were convinced, of the viola’s merits in chamber music settings. Robert Schumann was among the first composers to write chamber music for the viola; his Marchenbilder, or Four Fairytale Pictures for Viola and Piano (1851), was the first composition to extend the range of the viola into the treble clef, and includes some of his most colorful and heartfelt writing.
In 1890, Johannes Brahms decided to retire from composition, when he was by chance introduced to clarinetist Richard Muhlfeld, and this inspired a spark in Brahms that resulted in several new works, including the Trio for clarinet, piano and cello as well as a Clarinet Quintet. Both works were declared masterpieces of the day, and this success prompted Brahms to continue composing with a newly found vigor. Brahms saw a very close relationship between the sounds produced by the clarinet and the viola, and he always was open to transcriptions of works written for specific instruments. His old friend, violinist Joseph Joachim, suggested that the recent clarinet pieces would transcribe perfectly for the viola, and the resulting works became the two Sonatas for Viola and Piano that are presented here.
The performances here are superb, and the SACD multichannel recording places the two players in a perfect representation of the recorded acoustic. This is a near-reference quality disc; you are in the room with the two players. There’s only one small caveat – I’m not sure which, but the recording picks up and seems to accentuate the breathing of one of the two players – probably the violist, Yuri Gandelsman. After repeated listenings, I was able to push this aside and just enjoy the fabulous music making, but it may be a source of botherment to some. Highly recommended.
– Tom Gibbs
