Search - Josef Suk, Sulius Katchen :: Brahms: The Violin Sonatas

True and Golden Sound and Heartfelt Emotions

stradgirl | Toronto, ON | 10/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very memorable album of Brahms Violin Sonatas. As a direct descent of Dvorak, Suk sure knows how to play Brahms, who was Dvorak's mentor. You can feel the polished glory of his sound in every note, and every phrase is played with just the right amount of burning passion and romantic nuance - the d minor sonata especially is a gem you wouldn't want to miss. The crisp Decca acoustics and the golden rich tone of Suk together create a very special atmosphere. Alongside this recording, I recommend the two Brahms trios Suk played with Janos Starker and Julius Katchen: it's the definitive romantic interpretation of those monumental works."

The supreme perfection!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 07/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Among the annals of the greatest historical registers ever made this set must be included in a top list of the twenty five gem performances of the chamber music genre.



There is not any violinist of today capable to equal the level of expression and total commitment of Joseph Suk. Moreover, can boast of this kaleidoscopic variety of tonal colour, organic phrasing, mercurial tact, and even major ability to express with such deepness of sheer lyricism.



Of course, there must be a strong acknowledgement in which concerns to the musical support of Julius Katchen one of the most extraordinary pianist born in USA, whose musical canvas sounds so expressive natural that it would seem to have been born in Europe. His velvet sound, his accuracy around every single bar and his inimitable pianissimos makes of him the most remarkable American pianist playing Brahms. He captured and knew to deal with the essential core of Brahms, conferring him of grace, charm ,deepness without that nestled humor into the musical structure.



I would like to underline this last aspect because without that Mediterranean touch, Brahms may be unbearable to listen. That's why there are so many brilliant pianists who conscious or unconsciously increase a pretended austerity in his music, lacking that kind spirit of a man who loved the Hungarian tunes and maintained a sort of formidable equilibrium between expression and charm; vigor and lyricism.



That's why this set must be acquired in case you (as I do) be a hard fan Brahms chamber music and effectively want to possess the4 best versions of this first rate composer.



A must-have.

"

Lovely performances with all the soaring passion so missing

Laraine A. Barker | New Zealand | 12/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At the moment I'm listening (on the radio) to the Shlomo Mintz/Itamar Golan recording of Sonata No. 1 and it's all too slow and earth-bound for my taste. It's as though the musicians are driving home the point that this is some of the most beautiful music from the romantic era. But for me it doesn't work to play these sonatas with any sort of restraint. I have fond memories of an LP of Menuhin and Kentner, both completely carried away by the music's sheer ecstasy (Brahms must have been unbelievably happy when he wrote both the first and second sonatas) and this CD is the only one I've heard that comes close to Menuhin and Kentner. I might even prefer it to Menuhin and Kentner if I had the time to find the LP and go to all the trouble inherent in playing vinyl discs. I didn't choose this performance; I inherited it from my sister, and I wish I had asked her (when she played it for me on my last visit to her home) why she chose it in preference to others."