ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD (1897-1957)
Complete Works for Violin & Piano

Classics Today:
Artistic Quality: 8 / Sound Quality: 8
"This program is the same as the ASV release of Korngold’s complete works for violin and piano, by coincidence issued at very nearly the same time. CPO violinist Sonja van Beek’s round and honeyed tone may not be the biggest out there, but it’s just right for this setting. Her intonation is better than Derek Hahn’s, the violinist on ASV. Both she and pianist Andreas Frölich successfully navigate the many moods of Korngold’s Violin Sonata, although Frölich is freer with the rhythm than ASV’s Andrew Ball. Some listeners may wish for a wider, looser vibrato at times, but van Beek captures just the right blend of nobility and charm in the engaging and technically challenging Scherzo. CPO’s sound isn’t as full as it might be, so van Beek’s upper register occasionally sounds anemic.
The duo plays beautifully in Korngold’s own transcription of Marietta’s Lute Song from Die tote Stadt–and Frölich is especially effective in adding warmth and color to this music. The rest of the program is equally delightful, highlighted by van Beek’s impish harmonics–always in tune–in the Caprice fantastique, and the lazy dreaminess of the Tanzlied des Pierot (also arranged from Die tote Stadt). Violinist Toscha Seidel has a bit more schmaltz and swing in his rendition of the Much Ado About Nothing suite (Complete Victor Recordings set on Biddulph), but van Beek’s version is more technically polished and arguably just as satisfying. In all, this is a disc for Korngold fans and for listeners interested in accessible, intelligently written, skillfully played violin music." --David Vernier

Violin Sonata op. 6 in G
01. Ben moderato, ma con passione [9'43]
02. Scherzo. Allegro molto (con fuoco) [11'52]
03. Adagio. Mit tiefer Empfindung [8'00]
04. Finale. Allegretto quasi Andante [8'41]
05. Tanzlied des Pierrot from »Die tote Stadt« op. 12 [4'20]
06. Mariettas Lied zur Laute from »Die tote Stadt« op. 12 [5'10]
07. Caprice fantastique Wichtelmännchen [4'46]
08. Serenade from the ballet pantomime »Der Schneemann« [2'24]
09. Gesang der Heliane from »Das Wunder der Heliane« [3'27]
Much ado about nothing op. 11
10. Mädchen im Brautgemach [3'35]
11. Holzapfel und Schlehenwein [2'20]
12. Gartenscene [5'35]
13. Mummenschanz [2'08]
Total Playing Time: 72'05

Sonja van Beek, violin
Andreas Frölich, Piano

Co-Production: Südwestrundfunk/CPO
Recording: Kammermusikstudio des SWR Stuttgart, October 27-29, 1999
Recording Supervisor: Dietmar Wolf
Recording Engineer: Friedemann Trumpp
Editing: Sabine Klunzinger
Executive Producers: Marlene Weber-Scheifer/Burkhard Schmilgun
© 2000 cpo - Made in Germany
cpo 999 709-2