Masters of the Bow

Violin Masterpieces is a unique 12-CD set that features the violin in solo and chamber settings. The artist roster is impressive with Oscar Shumsky, Robert Mann, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Christian Tetzlaff and Pamela Frank.

The set starts off with the German violinist Christian Tetzlaff performing the three Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin by Bach. This is music that is spiritual as well as virtuosic. Bach is not satisfied with a single line of music, instead he creates chords and even counterpoint — a technique in which the harmonic drift implies extra voices. Sounding like an actor's soliloquy, Tetzlaff's violin speaks with great characteristic joy, personal feeling and exhilaration. The next two discs comprise a good overview of the Violin Sonatas of Mozart. They are expertly performed by American Oscar Shumsky — including the popular G Major K.301, B-flat Major K.378 and A Major, K.305. David Oistrakh called Shumsky "one of the world's greatest violinists."

Young Pamela Frank offers the complete sonatas by Beethoven. She is joined by her father Claude Frank as pianist, creating a splendid musical dialogue that is both familial and exciting. Included are Sonatas No. 9 "Kreutzer" and No. 5 "Spring" — two of the most celebrated violin sonatas in the entire canon, with their demanding violin parts, unusual length and emotional scope. Known predominantly for his work with the Juilliard String Quartet, Robert Mann and British pianist Stephen Hough perform the three Brahms Violin Sonatas. Together they create a wonderful naturalness with their playing — two chamber music icons.

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg...more details