Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Felix [1] Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann :: Beethoven: Kreutzer Sonata; Schumann: Violin Sonata No. 2

Dying legend performing for posterity....

Robert Manari | San Francisco, CA United States | 03/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Before becoming recognized as one of the greatest composers of the 20th Century (process still continuing today), George Enescu was already established as one of the leading violinists of his generation. Schumann's D minor Violin Sonata and Beethoven's Violin Sonata no. 9 (both recorded in 1952) will always retain a place of honor in recording history as being the last ones Enescu recorded as a violinist. Beethoven's "Kreutzer" Sonata was recorded after his doctors had forbidden him to play the violin; is just incredible how Enescu, ill and approaching the end of his life, was able to deliver such a powerful and heartfelt performance.



Finally, no collection of Enescu's recordings as a violinist would be complete without the amazing interpretation of Chausson's Poeme (recorded in 1929 when he was at the height of his powers), his own astonishing Violin Sonatas no. 2 and 3 (recorded in 1943 with fellow compatriot, the legendary Dinu Lipatti), and Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin (recorded in 1949 and considered to be his most important interpretative legacy on record)."