Search - Paul Hindemith, Robert Levin :: Hindemith: Sonatas for viola/piano & viola alone

Hindemith expresses himself through the viola

Redgecko | 07/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's a shame that the viola is not showcased enough. Fortunately, composers such as Hindemith (as well as Bach and others) really took a liking to it (though it is said that Bach loved playing the viola to relieve his stress and was felt it was a valuable asset to music as a whole, he never wrote solo works for it) and expanded its repetoire. As a result, he had an easier time expressing his music via the viola, thus making this CD a great example of Hindemith as a whole. Although some people, who aren't fond of 20th-century music, may not appreciate the unaccompanied sonatas on Disc 1, it would be hard for any romantic NOT to immediately fall in love with the op. 11/4 Sonata with piano on Disc 2. As usual, Kashkashian and Levin do a great job--musically, technically, and as an ensemble."

Kashkashian amazing as usual...

Patrick | Atlanta, GA | 02/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now I consider myself an amateur listener, but I can tell you that this recording of the Hindemith Sonatas is absolutely amazing. Kim Kashkashian's viola sound is breathtaking, and Robert Levin does a wonderful job as well.

Being a violist myself, I of course love to hear a well-done viola recording, and this recording is one of the best I own, if not the best. Kim Kashkashian's interpretation of these sonatas is wonderful, and I will cherish these two CDs for probably the rest of my life.

I definitely recommend this recording to any violist."

Not quite complete

Redgecko | USA | 10/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It would have been appropriate to include Hindemith's 1922 "Little Sonata for Viola d'amore and Piano", Op. 25, no. 2. This interesting 3 movement piece is only 12 minutes long and played on the viola d'amore, an instrument related to the viola, but more difficult to play. I think that this excellent recording would have been even better with this additional piece. I'm sure that Kashkashian knows how to play it and there was room for it.



To hear what you're missing, listen to "Hindemith: The Complete Sonatas, Vol. 2" by Ensemble Villa Musica.

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