Johannes Brahms - Complete Works for Piano & Violin - Arabella Steinbacher - Robert Kulek - PentaTone PTC 5186.367 (2011) SACD rip via PS3 to iso (3.94GB) | 24bit/88.2kHz flac | Mch (3.04GB) (+3.98dB gain) | 2ch (1.24GB) DR15 (+4.96dB gain) | Classical A Polyhymnia DSD recording :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The new violin superstar Arabella Steinbacher has been praised on this site for her recordings of concertos of Bartók, Szymanowski and Dvorák. Now exclusively on Pentatone, she now has this set of all of the music for violin and piano by Brahms. She isn't the first one to record all three sonatas plus the Scherzo from the FAE Sonata, but this is the only version on SACD. Pianist Robert Kulek already is established as a teacher and chamber music specialist; these two artists made a previous recording of sonatas of Poulenc, Fauré and Ravel on the Orfeo label. High quality on this new release, and the expected quality audio from Pentatone's engineering team headed, as usual, by Job Maarse. ~ Robert Benson http://www.classicalcdreview.com/MC351.html The intimate nature of these three sonatas (No.2 an act of reconciliation with Brahms's friend Joachim) makes them ideal for home listening and the current CD choice is bewildering. Far more than in the Beethoven works there s an independence of violin and piano, and here the Munich violinist Arabella Steinbacher has a exemplary partnership with Robert Kulek (born in Latvia, educated in the States). She brings an extraordinary range of expression to the writing. We have as a bonus Brahms's scherzo for the earlier composite FAE Sonata written to amuse Joachim. Another rewarding disc, following Steinbacher s Bartók coupling reviewed in February. ~ CB www.hifinews.co.uk | SEPTEMBER 2011 Poly Nominal's review: http://www.hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=7114#reviews Johannes Brahms was only 15 years old when he 1st attended a performance by the famous violinist, Joseph Joachim. Later on, he met Joachim personally, thanks to a Hungarian colleague, Eduard Reményi, with whom Brahms made a concert tour in 1853. After 1st hearing Brahms play, Joachim exclaimed: “I have never before come across so great a talent. He is years ahead of me.” The 2 of them became friends for life: not only did they give a great many concerts together, but for during various periods in 1853 & 1854 Brahms even took up residence in Joachim’s house. Brahms was an avid reader of romantic books. He immersed himself in works by Jean Paul & Novalis, & copied his favourite passages into a notebook that he entitled ‘Schatzkästlein des jungen Kreislers’ (little treasure chest of the young Kreisler), thus tipping his hat to the fictitious figure from Robert Schumann’s Davidsbund. Every so often, Joseph Joachim also contributed a short text to the notebook, often in the form of an aphorism. He signed most of his texts with the letters, or musical notes, F-A-E. This was an abbreviation for Joachim’s life motto:‘frei aber einsam’ (free, but lonely). Tracks: 01-Sonata for Piano and Violin #1 in G, Op. 78 - Vivace ma non troppo 02-Sonata for Piano and Violin #1 in G, Op. 78 - Adagio 03-Sonata for Piano and Violin #1 in G, Op. 78 - Allegro molto moderato 04-Sonata for Piano and Violin #2 in A, Op. 100 - Allegro amabile 05-Sonata for Piano and Violin #2 in A, Op. 100 - Andante tranquillo - Vivace 06-Sonata for Piano and Violin #2 in A, Op. 100 - Allegretto grazioso (quasi Andante) 07-Sonata for Piano and Violin #3 in D minor, Op. 108 - Allegro 08-Sonata for Piano and Violin #3 in D minor, Op. 108 - Adagio 09-Sonata for Piano and Violin #3 in D minor, Op. 108 - Un poco presto e con sentimento 10-Sonata for Piano and Violin #3 in D minor, Op. 108 - Presto agitato 11-Scherzo from the FAE Sonata in C minor, WoO 2 - Allegro Time: 78: 57 Musicians: Arabella Steinbacher - Violin Robert Kulek - Piano http://www.filefactory.com/folder/315c182d5c46482b ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Checksum for iso: 70dfa02ee927d80802f085cefe0d7b3e *Arabella Steinbacher, Violin - Johannes Brahms Sonatas for Piano and Violin.iso