This CD is reissued by ArkivMusic.
Notes and Editorial Reviews
The playing here is first rate. Chung and Frankl clearly benefited from a long period of rehearsal and communication, as well as an extensive performance process (this disc was recorded in sessions over nine days) and they are at their best in the moments of lyricism, especially in the slow movements and in the opening of the first sonata. They rise to the challenges of the stormier passages in No. 3 too, however, and they are helped by warm, ambient sound engineered by the late and much lamented Christopher Raeburn.
-- Simon Thompson, MusicWeb International
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I suspect that it was the First Sonata that elicted the fondest response from Kyung-Wha Chung
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and Peter Frankl. Theirs is indeed a performance of rare poetry, with Chung weaving a veiled and vibrant solo line right from the start and Frankl responding in a like-minded fashion, occasionally splitting chords for expressive effect (as at around 2'12" into the first movement). The distended transition to the recapitulation (6'37") is particularly effective, but perhaps the highlight of the performance indeed, for me, of the whole disc - is that inward passage near the end of the Adagio (from 5'58") where Brahms anticipates the twilit world of his late piano pieces and Chung traces a rapt, fragile thread of tone. Sweetness returns for the closing Allegro moho moderato and, excepting one or two hesitant moments (just prior to the first double-stopped episode in the Adagio, at 352"), the performance is deeply memorable.
I was rather less convinced by the other two sonatas, although both performances have their strengths. The opening of the A minor work struck me as a mite prosaic but the finale has a restrained, wistful quality that suits the music, and Frankl is a consistently thoughtful collaborator. The Third Sonata's first movement is suitable earnest and the Adagio warmly played by Chung, but I thought the Presto agitato finale underpowered... Chung and Frankl are worthy exponents of Brahms, and a good deal more than that in the First Sonata...
-- Gramophone [12/1998]
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Works on This Recording
1.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 1 in G major, Op. 78 by Johannes Brahms
Performer:
Kyung-Wha Chung (Violin),
Peter Frankl (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1878-1879; Austria
Date of Recording: 09/1995
Venue: St. George's, Brandon Hill, Bristol
Length: 28 Minutes 0 Secs.
2.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 2 in A major, Op. 100 by Johannes Brahms
Performer:
Kyung-Wha Chung (Violin),
Peter Frankl (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1886; Austria
Date of Recording: 09/1995
Venue: St. George's, Brandon Hill, Bristol
Length: 19 Minutes 42 Secs.
3.
Sonata for Violin and Piano no 3 in D minor, Op. 108 by Johannes Brahms
Performer:
Kyung-Wha Chung (Violin),
Peter Frankl (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1886-1888; Austria
Date of Recording: 09/1995
Venue: St. George's, Brandon Hill, Bristol
Length: 20 Minutes 10 Secs.
Sound Samples
Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Op. 78: I. Vivace ma non troppo
Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Op. 78: II. Adagio
Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Op. 78: III. Allegro molto moderato
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100: I. Allegro amabile
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100: II. Andante tranquillo - Vivace - Andante - Vivace di più - Andante - Vivace
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100: III. Allegretto grazioso (quasi andante)
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in D mino, Op. 108: I. Allegro
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in D mino, Op. 108: II. Adagio
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in D mino, Op. 108: III. Un poco presto e con sentimento
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in D mino, Op. 108: IV. Presto agitato
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