Search - Alfred Schnittke, Giampaolo Nuti :: Alfred Schnittke: Complete Works for Violin and Piano

Alfred Schnittke, Giampaolo Nuti
Alfred Schnittke: Complete Works for Violin and Piano
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (16) - Disc #1
1. Sonata for violin & piano No.1: Andante
2. Sonata for violin & piano No.1: Allegretto
3. Sonata for violin & piano No.1: Largo
4. Sonata for violin & piano No.1: Allegretto scherzando
5. Sonata for violin & piano No.2 ('Quasi una sonata')
6. Suite (Sonata) in the Old Style, for violin & piano (or harpsichord): Pastorale
7. Suite (Sonata) in the Old Style, for violin & piano (or harpsichord): Balletto
8. Suite (Sonata) in the Old Style, for violin & piano (or harpsichord): Minuetto
9. Suite (Sonata) in the Old Style, for violin & piano (or harpsichord): Fuga
10. Suite (Sonata) in the Old Style, for violin & piano (or harpsichord): Pantomima
11. Gratulationsrondo, for violin & piano in C major
12. Silent Night (Stille Nacht), for violin & piano
13. Sonata for violin & piano No.3: Andante
14. Sonata for violin & piano No.3: Allegro (molto)
15. Sonata for violin & piano No.3: Adagio
16. Sonata for violin & piano No.3: Senza tempo

CD Details

All Artists: Alfred Schnittke, Giampaolo Nuti
Title: Alfred Schnittke: Complete Works for Violin and Piano
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Stradivarius
Original Release Date: 1/1/2004
Re-Release Date: 6/8/2004
Genre: Classical
Styles: Chamber Music, Historical Periods, Classical (c.1770-1830), Instruments, Strings
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 723724698321, 8011570336750

Synopsis

Album Description

Russian composer Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998) is noted above all for his hallmark "polystylistic" idiom, demonstrated not only in numerous symphonic and chamber works, but also in more than 60 film scores. He is considered to be one of the most successful of all modern composers with the public. In the 60s, Schnittke's work showed careful absorption of the new forms of music which were managing to get through the Iron Curtain, and his first two violin sonatas are representative of his investigations at this time. The Third Sonata, written in 1994, reverts to a traditional form. The other works include many borrowings from his own film scores, which he always intended to be eventual sources for concert work.

CD Reviews

Complete Works for marketing.

villegem | canada | 03/29/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

""Complete Works" are projects that suit record labels and are meant to establish an interpreter career. Rarely, the level is sustained and the goal achieved. Often unequal quality hampers the result and the marketing plot takes over: there isn't a piece untouched by the interpreter, sadly.

Take the ubiquitous "Suite in the Old Style" that like its title suggests is meant to echo Baroque style, more precisely J.S. Bach prelude of Well Tempered Clavier Book 1, BWV 849 during the Minuet. Well, not only there isn't any effort or knowledge to evoke the baroque, but the level of playing is of student at best. The violin approximative tone, rythm and flat pitch, the piano complete disregard for the period articulation, and this minuet becomes a noodle that means nothing. And if there is a composer that never wrote without a strong intention, it is Schnittke whose polystylistic language was one of respect, deep knowledge of both technical and spiritual content of the styles he was using. It is followed by the fugue, played at record speed unsafe for both listeners and violinist! Enough said.

The Sonata for Violin and Piano No.1 Andante allows the pianist to offer some hilarious entrance... The allegretto is quite fat, the largo unfocused etc... The "Stille Nacht" is so laborious that the humour has left the building long before it even started...

These works have been recorded by Oleg Kagan, Gidon Kremer both friends of Schnittke. Their reading is light years away from this. On BIS Pontinen and Wallin offer a much better version of the Suite and other pieces such as Stille Nacht. Yes sometimes miracles happen and a new interpreter bring a fresh, intelligent and sensitive take superior to the initial performer -Ponomareva versus Berman for instance-. But not here.

So "complete works" here is the marketing trick. Indeed the next opus from Gianpaolo Nuti will be the "complete piano work, volume one"... which I intend to review upon availability."