The Beauty of Two = GRIEG: Cello Sonata, Op. 36; HINDEMITH: Viola Sonata, No. 4, Op. 11; POULENC: Flute Sonata; MARTINU: Cello Sonata No. 3 – The Kennedy Center Chamber Players (David Hardy, cello/ Daniel Foster, viola/ Toshiko Kohno, flute/ Lambert Orkis, piano) – Dorian DSL 90705, 74:12 ****:
The enlightened and very informative notes by pianist Lambert Orkis go a long way to explaining the mystery behind the idea of a sonata for “piano and violin”, and even though none of these particular works list the two instruments in that order, Orkis is able to demonstrate his own unique approach to duo performances. Here we have four delightful gems. The Grieg is almost 30 minutes, and tends to ramble at times (extended works were never his forte) yet at the same time his melodic invention is as rich as always, and David Hardy is able to sell this work with emotion and a sense of Nordic gusto. Hindemith, being a viola player himself, wrote a number of sonatas for the instrument, none as richly deserving of repeated performances as this one, easily perhaps the most accessible and melody-driven of any of his solo instrument sonatas. Daniel Foster plays it for all its considerable worth.
The Poulenc Flute Sonata is almost beyond description; insouciant, flirty, and irrepressibly engaging, its repertory status has long been assured. Toshiko Kohno is joyously involved in some supreme music-making here. Mr. Hardy returns again for a lovely Martinu reading, a wonderful work, virtually unknown (and sadly ignored, as so much of this terrific composer’s music is), with an inflected jazzy finale that will have you dancing.
This production is first class all the way, and these readings could easily serve as the only ones if your collection is on a budget. But do familiarize yourself with these works, as Orkis and company take us on a fascinating and rewarding journey. The sound? Great!
— Steven Ritter
