Brahms: Viola Sonatas; Trio in A minor (2007)

The Brahms viola sonatas, originally composed as sonatas for clarinet and piano, have nonetheless cemented themselves as cornerstones of the viola repertoire. This is not surprising, as these are truly the first serious sonatas that a major composer titled for the viola. But since Brahms had the clarinet in mind, there are inherent difficulties that the viola must overcome to achieve a successful performance. Like its similarly neglected cousin the double bass, the viola -- even under the best of circumstances -- has ... Read More

The Brahms viola sonatas, originally composed as sonatas for clarinet and piano, have nonetheless cemented themselves as cornerstones of the viola repertoire. This is not surprising, as these are truly the first serious sonatas that a major composer titled for the viola. But since Brahms had the clarinet in mind, there are inherent difficulties that the viola must overcome to achieve a successful performance. Like its similarly neglected cousin the double bass, the viola -- even under the best of circumstances -- has limited projection abilities, especially when compared to the focused sound and considerable volume of a clarinet. Balance in these works is therefore a significant obstacle and is often addressed by either making the piano sound timid or forcing the viola beyond its natural means. This recording by violist Lawrence Power and pianist Simon Crawford-Philips occasionally falls into both categories. Both musicians are clearly quite gifted on their individual instruments. Power's playing is... Read Less

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2007, Hyperion UPC: 034571175843 CD See All