Classical Net

The Internet's Premier Classical Music Source

Related Links

Recommended Links

Give the Composers Timeline Poster



Site News

What's New for
Winter 2018/2019?

Site Search

Follow us on
Facebook    Twitter

Affiliates

In association with
Amazon
Amazon UKAmazon GermanyAmazon CanadaAmazon FranceAmazon Japan

ArkivMusic
CD Universe

JPC
ArkivMusic

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

CD Review

Beethoven Explored

Volume 3

  • Ludwig van Beethoven:
  • Violin Sonata #4 in A minor, Op. 23
  • Violin Sonata #5 "Spring" in F Major, Op. 24
  • Ferdinand Ries: Sonata in C minor, Op. 38
Peter Sheppard Skærved, violin
Aaron Shorr, piano
Métier Records MSVCD2005 78m DDD
Find it at AmazonFind it at Amazon UKFind it at Amazon GermanyFind it at Amazon CanadaFind it at Amazon FranceFind it at Amazon Japan

Volume 4

  • Ludwig van Beethoven:
  • Violin Sonata #6 in A Major, Op. 30 #1
  • Violin Sonata #7 in C minor, Op. 30 #2
  • Violin Sonata #8 in G Major, Op. 30 #3
  • Franz Clement: Variations on Gretry's "Barbe Bleu"
Peter Sheppard Skærved, violin
Aaron Shorr, piano
Métier Records MSVCD2006 60m DDD
Find it at AmazonFind it at Amazon UKFind it at Amazon GermanyFind it at Amazon CanadaFind it at Amazon FranceFind it at Amazon Japan

This highly interesting series from the enterprising Metier label combines sterling and polished accounts of Beethoven's violin sonatas together with rare works by his contemporaries. Thus whilst Sheppard and Shorr can relish in the titanic tasks Beethoven creates for them, there is also time to explore some long forgotten highways and byways of the repertoire.

The Op. 30 sonatas are somewhat less intense than those which came later but the soloists still invest a lot of energy and fabulous dedication to their task. I greatly enjoyed the Ries Sonata which is also very melodic and carefully constructed – a tribute to this rather overlooked Scandinavian composer.

Op. 23 and the "Spring" sonata bring about considerably heftier challenges for Sheppard and Skorr but they sail through proceedings in quite disarming simplicity. This time the accompanying work is by Franz Clement, an all but unknown composer who informs the melodies from Gretry's equally obscure opera "Barbe Bleu" with great beauty and finesse.

The recordings are quite excellent on all counts with the violin and piano carefully balanced to create a stimulating chamber ambience. The discs are further enhanced by fastidiously detailed and copious notes by Peter Sheppard who really knows his stuff and are an ideal accompaniment to this scholarly series.

Copyright © 2008, Gerald Fenech

Trumpet

© 1995-2024 Classical Net
Use of text, images, or any other copyrightable material contained in these pages, without the written permission of the copyright holder,
except as specified in the Copyright Notice, is strictly prohibited. All Rights Reserved.