Search - Beethoven, Van Immerseel, Schroder :: Violin Sonatas

Much too foggy

Jonathan J. Casey | the twin cities | 10/21/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This is sort of an oddity. First, it isn't clear from the liner notes but it appears to have been recorded in 1995. It may be much older than that. In any event, it is not a good recording. The piano sounds very distant, which hammers the nails in the coffin as far as a fortepiano goes. If you want a reverberating, soupy piano sound just buy a recording performed on a Steinway. Again, the liner notes don't even specify what instrument Immerseel is using. While he tends to prefer Viennese fortepianos I'd almost guess this was an English instrument, but that may just be the poor microphone placement fooling my ears. Jaap Schroder lays the vibrato on pretty thick for a longtime advocate of historical performance. This isn't Heifetz, by any means, but it sort of defeats the purpose of buying this recording. The playing all around is lacking the precision and energy necessary to make this music sound really good. The Kreutzer sonata is a great piece of music, especially the first movement, and both works are good things to have. If you already own these and are looking for a period instruments alternative, I wouldn't recommend this record. If you're not a fan of period instruments, avoid it at all costs because this will only reaffirm your beliefs (though I'd implore you to listen to William Christie, Anner Bylsma, or Andreas Staier and rethink your opinion). If you are new to this stuff and don't want to spend a lot of money, you wouldn't be poisoning your ears with this, but I'm sure there's much better options. While I've heard great things by both of these performers (Schroder was concertmaster in Hogwood's excellent cycle of Mozart's complete symphonies; Immerseel's recording of Schubert's piano trios with Bylsma and Vera Beths is great) this recording just doesn't stand up."

First rate CD at a bargain price!

Dr. A. Large | 08/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a bargain CD, and the previous reviewer (who has reviewed this item TWICE) is misguided. These are great, forceful interpretations of Beethoven's best known violin sonatas and certainly compare favorably with period instrument set available from Nimbus. Indeed, the later fortepiano is less bright than one from the 1790s but is reasonably well recorded. The violin sound is captured accurately with the plucked notes in the Kreutzer's first movement well defined.
This CD costs so little you should find out how good it is for yourself."

Bethoveen personally...

Sanja Kostic | mirro | 02/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Two ripe musicians, meet around Beethoven and good performance. Introductions followed by expressive passages, Dialogues, reprises, exchange of thoughts, soft ends, lots of Rubato, Accentuato and many very nice music are all about these two sonatas. Immerseel and Schroder are great.



Original Bethoveen-time instruments, give more intimate expression, and particularly fortepiano, una corda effect, at least I think it is, makes all slow movements completely adorable. Bravo!



Mirro"