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Igor Fedotov: Soviet Russian Viola Music

W. Ries | Chicago | 04/03/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every aspect of this CD merits the highest praise: Igor Fedotov's masterful playing, the wonderful collaborations with each of his superb accompanists, and the beautiful compositions collected by Mr. Fedotov and presented here. The music is rich and sophisticated and continuously rewards re-hearing. Mr. Fedotov devotes a passionate intensity to every note, yet the forward drive of his playing is always felt. He has the remarkable ability to dwell expressively on every detail of every phrase, while at the same time to somehow indicate the role each passage plays in the unfolding structure of a piece. Pianists Leonid Vechkhayzer and Gary Hammond are wonderful partners in this intelligent expressiveness. Mr. Fedotov's viola technique is brilliant and comprehensive. His sound is beautiful, moving and haunting, and it displays great range and great variety. The pieces recorded on this CD should become parts of every violist's repertoire and should be widely known by music lovers. The extraordinary musicality of Mr. Fedotov's recordings here will set the performance standard for these pieces for a long, long time."