SearchsearchUseruser

Beethoven: Violin Sonatas, Vol. 1 - Podger, Glynn

Beethoven: Violin Sonatas, Vol. 1 - Podger, Glynn

Channel Classics  CCSSA 44222

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Chamber


Beethoven: Violin Sonatas 1, 5 & 10

Rachel Podger (violin)
Christopher Glynn (fortepiano)


Rachel Podger, “the unsurpassed British glory of the baroque violin” (The Times), and Grammy award-winning pianist Christopher Glynn have recorded Beethoven’s Sonatas for Violin and Piano Op. 12 (No.1), Op 24 & Op. 96. The album will be released on March 25, 2022.

Following the Mozart/Jones Sonatas Fragment Completions album released in 2021, this Beethoven recording marks Podger & Glynn’s second release. It is also Rachel Podger’s 28th album for Channel Classics Records, produced by Royal Academy of Music Principal Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood and recorded by Jared Sacks.

Reading about Ludwig van Beethoven as a performer usually brings up the inevitable stories about his characteristic and idiosyncratic piano playing in Vienna. But delving further into his early years in Bonn, we read that, as a musician at the court of the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, he was active as both organist and viola player. And when he left for Vienna in 1792 he was advised to take violin lessons with Ignaz Schuppanzigh. Beethoven’s profound understanding of both the violin and the piano, and ability to combine them with astonishing invention and originality, is heard in ten sonatas. Three of which are performed on this new album; Op. 12 (No. 1), Op. 24 & Op. 96.

Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the links provided below.
As an Amazon Associate HRAudio.net earns from qualifying purchases.

amazon.ca
amazon.co.uk
amazon.com
amazon.com.au
amazon.de
amazon.es
amazon.fr
amazon.it
bol.com
 
jpc
Presto

 

Add to your wish list | library

 

3 of 3 recommend this, would you recommend it?  yes | no

All
show
Recording
show
hide
DSD recording
Reviews (1)
show
hide

Review by Graham Williams - June 7, 2022

Having committed to disc swathes of the Baroque repertoire including acclaimed sets of the Vivaldi Violin Concertos and the complete Mozart Violin Sonatas, it is logical that Rachel Podger has turned her attention to the Beethoven Sonatas for Violin and Piano. For this, the first of what one hopes will be a complete cycle on SACD of these works for Channel Classics, she is partnered by the pianist Christopher Glynn.

The choice of these particular three sonatas is a judicious one as they strikingly chart Beethoven’s compositional journey from the influence of Haydn and Mozart in Sonata Opus 12 No. 1 (1798) to his final mature (and many would say loveliest) masterpiece in this genre, the Sonata Op. 96 from 1812. Podger and Glynn are in complete accord in their accounts of these three works and the playing from both artists is constantly beguiling. Discernment and spontaneity is matched with a freshness of approach that seems paramount in these performances. Their lightness of touch is especially evident in the lyrical Spring Sonata Op.24 and overall they are unburdened from the sometimes cloying richness found on some of the earlier accounts of these pieces on disc

Podger’s 1718 ‘Maurin’ Antonio Stradivari (not Antonia, as an unfortunate typo in the booklet suggests) is ideally suited to these sonatas as is the tonally attractive 1840 Erard fortepiano that gives Glynn ample opportunity to make the most of his splendid pianism.

Praise for the excellent sound quality on Channel releases is almost implicit in any review of their releases and this one is no exception. The acoustic signature of St. John’s Church, Upper Norwood, London makes it an ideal location for Jared Sacks’s unobtrusive engineering. The venue provides both warmth and exceptional clarity for a superb DSD recording of incomparable realism made in May 2021.

Though Sacks has now sold his company to Outhere Music the presentation and packaging is as before, apart from a new, and quite low-key, logo for the label.

An unqualified success for all concerned.

Copyright © 2022 Graham Williams and HRAudio.net

Performance:

Sonics (Multichannel):

stars stars
Comments (4)
show
hide

Comment by hiredfox - April 3, 2022 (1 of 4)

Wow! This is a treat. I thought Channel had given up on us. Great news Jared.

When is the next instalment due from Ivan Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra?

Comment by Jared Sacks - April 8, 2022 (2 of 4)

Bruckner 9 to be released when the Maestro has time to listen to the audio. Hopefully a October release.

Comment by hiredfox - April 9, 2022 (3 of 4)

Wonderful news Jared. October is still a long way off 'though.

Comment by hiredfox - August 5, 2022 (4 of 4)

The Amazon link for this SACD does not work. Beware or you'll end up with some obscure disc that you didn't order.