Christian Euler, Paul Rivinius
PRE-ORDER: This item will be shipped with the aim to deliver on release day.
Description
Christian Euler, together with his piano partner Paul Rivinius, present two Brahmsian masterpieces which foreshadow the fin de siecle and contrast these with Schumann's Marchenbilder,whose fairytale-like character is reflected in the music's imaginative narrative gesture, transporting the listener into an enchanting world full of magic, poetry and longing.
Brahms' last sonatas, written three years before his death, must have been a matter close to the composer's heart, as he had actually already given up composing. He was so enraptured by the unrivalled virtuosity of clarinettist Richard Muhlfeld that he reneged on his decision.
The reduction to the essentials, the attempt to say everything as concisely as possible, is so typical of the late Brahms. The enchanting motifs in Op. 120 are extraordinarily subtle in their contrapuntal elaboration - the noble gesture of a serene maestro who bids farewell to his art in the guise of simplicity. Except for a few double stops from the viola version, Euler plays the original version to fully exploit its large range, especially in the virtuoso passages.
The viola, which Schumann believed the instrument closest to the human voice, is wonderfully utilised to narrate these imaginary fairytales. The four shortpieces from Op. 113 differ greatly in their mood: two fast, energetic movements are framed by two slow, melancholy ones. The dramatic third movement with triplets played "with a bouncing bow" contrasts greatly with the wistful final piece.
Tracklisting
Stephen Marchionda
Christian Euler, Paul Rivinius
Caterva Musica, Erdal Akkaya
Leipzig String Quartet
Andrzej Szadejko, Agnieszka Budzinska-Bennett, Cracow Singers
Lea Suter
Wolfgang Sawallisch, Leopolder-Quartett, Munchner Klaviertrio
Various Artists
Christian Euler; Paul Rivinius
Christian Euler; Paul Rivinius
