Notes and Editorial Reviews
An amazing violinist does wonders with Sarasate.
Anyone interested in stunning violin artistry should buy this amazing disc straightaway. It’s one of the best things I’ve heard in a long time. I hadn’t come across Tianwa Yang’s Sarasate series for Naxos before but I will certainly search out the other discs as a matter of some urgency. Her playing is simply extraordinary - no wonder she’s been described as “A Pride of China”. This isn’t one of those flashy, hollow, 20-notes-a-second recitals that quite frankly drive me to distraction. You know the sort of thing, the ones that are all about technique and nothing to do with music. This playing is supremely musical. Dazzling, all the same, but it’s the musicianship that’s
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the primary focus. Tianwa Yang’s sound is beautiful. At no point in this 79 minute programme is there a hint of strain. The tone remains perfect even during the harmonics, double-stopping passages and those dazzling displays of bowing contained in the fiendishly difficult
Fantaisie-Caprice. All the notes are perfectly in place but it’s all so lyrical, sensitively shaped and touching. Intonation is impeccable. It really is that good.
Many of the works on the disc are new to me. Sarasate has certainly written some really memorable, tuneful pieces. I will regularly return to them again. He’s Spain’s answer to Paganini in terms of his accomplishment as a violinist. Listening to his music, I find it more enjoyable and elegant than that of Paganini. It’s obviously very taxing from a technical standpoint. On the other hand it never reaches the point where you feel that the writing is right on the edge of becoming unplayable with those uncomfortable sounds that can emanate even from the bows of the world’s finest players. I am thankful that Ms Yang, very ably supported by Markus Hadulla, has committed this wonderful music to record. There’s a great variety in Sarasate’s writing, ranging from the dazzling virtuosity of
Fantaisie-Caprice to the lyrical elegance of
Boléro and the singing melodic inspiration to be found in
Rêverie and
Prière et berceuse.
The recording is warm, detailed and resonant with a nice, beefy piano sound. A joy to listen to in fact.
A final thank you and a plea to Naxos and their engineering team: I would love to hear Ms Yang in the Nielsen and Sibelius concertos. More please!
– John Whitmore, MusicWeb International
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Works on This Recording
1.
Zortzico for Violin and Piano, Op. 39 by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1898
2.
Sérénade andalouse, Op. 28 by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1883; Berlin, Germany
3.
Reverie, Op. 4 by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
4.
Prière et Berceuse, Op. 17 by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1870
5.
Les Adieux by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
6.
Le sommeil, Op. 11 by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
7.
Introduction and fandango, Op. 40 by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: by 1899
8.
Caprice on a theme from Gounod's "Mireille," Op. 6 by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
9.
Boléro for Violin and Piano, Op. 30 by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1885
10.
Airs écossais, Op. 34 by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1892
11.
Adiós montañas mias, Op. 37 by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1896
12.
Los pajaros de Chile by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
13.
Fantaisie Caprice by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Period: Romantic
14.
Confidences, Op. 7 by Pablo de Sarasate
Performer:
Tianwa Yang (Violin),
Markus Hadulla (Piano)
Sound Samples
Zortzico d'Iparaguirre, Op. 39
Serenade andalouse, Op. 28
Adios montanas mias, Op. 37
Introduction et fandango, Op. 40
Priere et berceuse, Op. 17
Caprice sur Mireille de Gounod, Op. 6
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 3 Customer Reviews )
Sarasate works you might not have heard before January 25, 2013
By Patricia W. (Big Arm, MT) See All My Reviews
"Having been a violinist and always wanting to play Sarasate pieces I often wondered how some of them might be played and now that this disc has been available I, and you, are able to hear many pieces that before have not been available. There are at least 8 new recordings, perhaps not the first, but at least now available of his works. Always interesting works no matter whether the first time you hear them or not."
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Sheer Joy and Splendor July 10, 2012
By Anthony G. (valley stream, NY) See All My Reviews
"I can honestly say that I have listened to this cd over and over again since I purchased it a month or so ago and can't stop playing it. It is glorious , sparkling, music that will lift the spirits of any listener. I am on the lookout for more cds of Sarasate's music. Don't pass this cd up. I am buying all of his discography that is available after listening to this cd. All. "
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Delightful Sarasate Music April 7, 2012
By Evan M. (Chicago, IL) See All My Reviews
"This is a lyrically beautiful and melodic collection of pieces that provides uplifting and very enjoyable listening"
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