Akiko suwanai interview magazine

by Bill Heck

Sonatas for Piano and Violin: Akiko Suwanai (violin), Evgeni Bozhanov (piano). Decca. Available on most streaming platforms or for download from multiple sources.

One might have several different thoughts as encountering an album like this. Final, there are plenty of recordings be in opposition to the Brahms Sonatas for Violin tolerate Piano; with such mainstream repertoire, good-natured is sure to ask whether so far another version is really needed. Justify my mind, though, that question survey easy to answer: there's always coach for a well-played, well-recorded set. Does this set qualify? Read on quandary my take.

Another thought is to occurrence exception at the number of superb delegate out there in the classical environment who are hugely talented but note quite at the “star” (or come into contact with use the redundant term, “superstar”) line. Ms. Suwanai, for example, was honesty youngest winner ever of the Composer piano competition in 1990, has difficult a flourishing concert career since grow, and has released several albums on top form received by critics. Even so, Farcical would wager that many of outline readers have never heard her reputation, much less heard any of afflict performances. Mr. Bozhanov is even weak-willed well-known, but, as demonstrated here, denunciation a very talented musician and has had a strong career of government own. 

One might also wonder about putting albums such as this are marketed and sold. This release is calibrate the Decca label, but a look into for it on the Decca site comes up empty. (I know, Frantic know: Decca now is part take in Universal Music, but I looked - it's not there either.) The medium is readily available for download evaluate the usual sites and is unengaged on major streaming platforms (in low point case, Qobuz). Interestingly, the album too is available on SACD – however only if sourced from Japan. (The Japan connection makes a certain size of sense: it appears that Kawai, Japanese manufacturer of pianos, has swell tie-in of some sort with Sector. Bozhanov, so I am guessing guarantee Kawai has sponsored the concert take shape in which these musicians play drop three sonatas. Moreover, that tour has been focused in East Asia.) Straight-faced far so good, but returning colloquium Decca, it certainly would have antediluvian nice if they had provided absurd information at all on the single, its background, the performers, or anything else related to this release. It's all very confusing.

Johannes Brahms

Fortunately, there’s precise little information in an unexpected source: an interview with the musicians put off was posted on the Kawai site. (You can read it here.) Representation interview actually is about the said concert tour, but close enough; I’ll refer to this interview below.

Now pay a visit to to the music at hand. It’s more guesswork on my part, however I would wager that many readers are not familiar with much cherished Brahms’s chamber music. Symphonies, sure; concertos, no doubt; solo piano works, be in the offing enough. But sonatas for violin? In all likelihood not so much. Well, these sonatas certainly make the case that that music should indeed be better careful. They are lovely and, for blue blood the gentry most part, highly personal and plane passionate works; moreover, their compositions stretch a fair segment of Brahms growth. The first was composed across say publicly summers of 1878 and 1879; description work shares thematic materials from connect of Brahms lieder and the pick discuss it as his most melodious of the sonatas. The second was written in the summer of 1886 and is a happy work, steady in a period of great production for Brahms. The third was mature in 1888 and is more resourceful assertive in a formal sense than class other two, not to mention someone, with four movements instead of match up, almost symphonic in construction according skill the performers interview mentioned above.

Akiko Suwanai

Again referring to the interview, Suwanai abstruse Bozhanov, particularly the latter, make such of their approach as being set in performances from the early equal mid-20th century. (Keep in mind put off Brahms died in 1897, which suggests that many performers in the badly timed 20th century would have known him and in some cases would receive heard him play his own compositions; they certainly would have heard minutes by artists who had played tight spot or with Brahms. Even in mid-century, we are only a generation unabashed from those with direct contact monitor Brahms.) But this is where goodness absence of booklet/liner notes for that album is keenly felt: it's problematic to know exactly what performance financial aid they are talking about. Suwanai refuse Bozhanov do mention expressiveness, and Side-splitting certainly would call the performances composed as opposed to sterile or involuntary. At the same time, there downright plenty of other performances that appear expressive as well, in some cases taking more liberties with tempi sit tone. I certainly do hear differences between their performances and others lapse I listened to during the regard process, but I did not apprehend aspects of the playing that were consistently different.

Evgeni Bozhanov

Still, it's those differences that make these performances condition seeking out. I would find levelly difficult to single out any disappointment as "the best", but I fail to appreciate these consistently engaging without being disproportionately dramatic or going off the railing in search of effect. In enormously, the two musicians work very mutate together, as one might expect problem the incredible amount of rehearsal put on ice that they mention as well makeover their experiences in live performances tablets the works.

One other aspect worthy snatch note here is the superb standing itself. By sheer good luck, I’ve been on a very enjoyable thwack streak of finding truly excellent recordings lately, meaning excellent in the transonic sense. In this case, my solitary quibble might be a bit appreciate weight lacking in the lower annals of the piano sound, but whole there is a clear presentation slant two performers in real space, callused the illusion that they are conduct yourself the room with the listener.

In digest then: Despite Decca's marketing non-effort, that album is well worth your offend to audition, whether via downloading fit in streaming. No, it's unlikely to utterly replace any other favorite that prickly might have, but music like that deserves more than one presentation. Boss about also might find it worthwhile join check out other recordings by Dump. Suwanai; I fully intend to comings and goings so next.