Search - Johannes Brahms, Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz [Vienna] Schubert :: Huberman in recital New York 1936-44

Superb performances, flawed sound

madamemusico | Cincinnati, Ohio USA | 08/19/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This absolutely fascinating disc gives us something only hinted at in Huberman's commercial recordings, namely how he compiled and sounded like in a solo recital. The Brahms Sonata receives here the finest interpretation I have ever heard, and Huberman's famed dark, viola-like tone is recorded to good advantage. In the last movement, however, there is unfortunately some tape distortion on a few notes: not enough to deter the true music-lover, perhaps, but the listener should be forewarned. The Bach Partida, also quite fascinating (and surprisingly clean in execution for a violinist born in 1882 and trained by Joachim), suffers from lacquer-disc surface noise: the original discs were so warped that they had to sit under heavy weights for seven years in order to become playable!! The Schubert Fantasia is utterly fascinating in Huberman's interpretation: with its contrasting sections, he takes us to another world. The Sarasate "Romanza Andalusia" is quite similar to his 1929 Columbia recording, but in much better sound. Boris Roubakine, a name unknown to me, proves to be a remarkably musical, sensitive accompanist: he is "with" Huberman every step of the way, not a small feat considering the highly individual idiosyncrosies of his violin-playing. In short, an INDISPENSABLE disc for fans of the violinist. Fans of DDD sound, however, should look elsewhere."