Mozart, Beethoven - Violin Sonatas / Oleg Kagaan violin, Sviatoslav Richter piano / 2 CD / Double Forte / EMI Classics

UPC 724357429320

MADE IN THE UK

TOTAL TIME: 128 minutes

English Summary:

The Oleg Kagaan/Sviatoslav Richter all-Mozart recital, recorded live at Tours in July, 1974, came out on a 1991 EMI budget CD release, minus the G major sonata K. 379. EMI now releases the whole recital in a richer, more present remastering, coupled with the pair’s live 1976 Munich Beethoven Op. 23 and “Spring” Sonatas, which, I believe, are new to CD. Although the Kagaan/Richter collaboration was in its relative infancy at the time of the Mozart recordings, the musicians are kindred spirits in their disciplined ensemble and decisive, large-scaled approach to these works. Sometimes in the outer movements Kagaan’s extroversion veers toward aggression, yet he sensitively picks up on Richter’s sustained, hypnotic legato phrasing in the slow movements. That said, I marginally prefer the duo’s more refined and supple K. 306 recorded a year later and issued on Live Classics, notably for its lighter, playful Allegretto.

Tracklist:

Compact Disc 1

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Sonata for violin & piano No. 23 in D major, K. 306 (K. 300l)     
    
1     Allegro con spirito
  
2     Andante cantabile
   
3     Allegretto
   

Sonata for violin & piano No. 26 in B flat major, K. 378 (K. 317d)     
    
4     Allegro moderato
 
5     Andantino sostenuto e cantabile
   
6     Rondeau, Allegro
 

Sonata for violin & piano No. 27 in G major, K. 379 (K. 373a)     
    
7     Adagio, Allegro
       
8     Theme (Andante cantabile) & Variations 1-5. Theme (Allegretto)
 

Compact Disc 2

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

 
1     Sonata for violin & piano No. 31 in C major (fragment), K. 404 (K. 385d)
     
2     Allegro for violin & piano in B flat major (fragment), K. 372
    
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Sonata for violin & piano No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23     
    
3    Presto

4    Andante schrzoso, piu Allegretto

5    Allegro molto

6    Allegro
    
Sonata for violin & piano No. 5 in F major ("Spring"), Op. 24     
  
7     Adagio molto espressivo
  
8     Scherzo, Allegro molto
  
9     Rondo, Allegro ma non troppo