Nikolai Medtner; Maurice Ravel - Violin Sonatas (Vadim Repin; Boris Berezovsky)

Information

Composer: Nikolai Medtner; Maurice Ravel

1. Ravel - Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major: I. Allegretto
2. Ravel - Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major: II. Blues. Moderato
3. Ravel - Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major: III. Perpetuum mobile. Allegro
4. Medtner - Sonata Epica in E minor (Violin Sonata No. 3), Op. 57: I. Introduzione. Andante meditamente - Allegro
5. Medtner - Sonata Epica in E minor (Violin Sonata No. 3), Op. 57: II. Scherzo. Allegro molto vivace - Leggiero
6. Medtner - Sonata Epica in E minor (Violin Sonata No. 3), Op. 57: III. Andante con moto
7. Medtner - Sonata Epica in E minor (Violin Sonata No. 3), Op. 57: IV. Finale. Allegro molto

Vadim Repin, violin
Boris Berezovsky, piano

Date: 1996
Label: Erato

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review

The Medtner sonata is the principal work here. Of the three that he wrote the Third (Epica) is perhaps the most intricately worked and, at over 40 minutes, certainly the most substantial. At times it seems almost too long for its own good and for that reason it needs a very persuasive and masterly performance in order to project its strengths. Fortunately Vadim Repin’s and Boris Berezovsky’s performance here is about as persuasive as you can get – Repin is lyrical and passionate and has plenty of fiery temperament for this music, and he is ideally complemented by Berezovsky’s equally splendid playing. Much is made of the sonata’s lyrical and melodic abundance (the Scherzo is delivered with great panache) and Repin’s choice of tempo for all movements is expertly judged – compared to Alexander Shirinsky and Dmitri Galynin, Repin comes in faster in just about all movements; even so I still find the finale a little overworked and extended for the material.

The coupling of the Ravel Sonata is a rather curious one, and I am really not sure that these two sonatas sit well together despite the obvious contrast they may offer. Those with only an interest in the Ravel will probably content themselves with one of the many other fine, more aptly coupled recordings available, which is a pity, as Repin and Berezovsky are perhaps even more impressive here than in the Medtner. As a vehicle for Repin’s talent it shows what a marvellous colourist he is, what exceptional subtlety and nuance he brings to the music and, in the “Blues” movement especially, the sheer frisson he is capable of generating. One cannot understate the superb ensemble playing either, with Berezovsky perfectly atuned to every twist and turn of Repin’s playing.

In sum then, both of these performances are extremely recommendable, so if the coupling appeals this disc is an absolute must. The recorded sound throughout is very realistic and naturally balanced.

-- Michael Stewart, Gramophone

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nikolai Medtner (5 January 1880 [O.S. 24 December 1879] – 13 November 1951) was a Russian composer and pianist. A younger contemporary of Rachmaninoff and \Scriabin, he wrote a substantial number of compositions, all of which include the piano. His works include fourteen piano sonatas, three violin sonatas, three piano concerti, a piano quintet, two works for two pianos, many shorter piano pieces, a few shorter works for violin and piano, and 108 songs including two substantial works for vocalise. Despite his conservative musical tastes, Medtner's compositions and his pianism were highly regarded by his contemporaries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Medtner

***

Maurice Ravel (7 March 1875 – 28 December 1937) was a French composer, pianist and conductor. He is often associated with impressionism along with Claude Debussy, although both composers rejected the term. In the 1920s and 1930s Ravel was internationally regarded as France's greatest living composer. Among his works to enter the repertoire are pieces for piano, chamber music, two piano concertos, ballet music, two operas, and eight song cycles. His best known works include Boléro (1928), Gaspard de la nuit (1908), Daphnis et Chloé (1912). Ravel was also an exceptionally skilled orchestrator.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Ravel

***

Vadim Repin (born 31 August 1971 in Novosibirsk, Western Siberia) is a Russian-born Belgian violinist who lives in Vienna. He studied with Zakhar Bron, the famous violin teacher. At the age of 17, he became the youngest winner of violin section of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels. Repin specializes in Russian and French music, particularly the great Russian violin concertos, as well as 20th century and contemporary music. Repin was a recording artist of Erato and since 2005, DG. Yehudi Menuhin called him "simply the best and most perfect violinist that I have ever had the chance to hear".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vadim_Repin

http://www.vadimrepin.com/

***

Boris Berezovsky (born January 4, 1969, in Moscow) is a Russian virtuoso pianist. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Eliso Virsaladze and privately with Alexander Satz. Berezovsky won the Gold Medal at the 1990 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Since then, he works regularly as a soloist with famous orchestras, conductors and chamber partners. He has championed Medtner since the early 1990s and has been one of the foremost recent interpreters of the composer's music. Berezovsky has made a considerable number of records for Teldec, and now records for Mirare.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Berezovsky_(pianist)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!