Sonatas & Myths—Sonatas for violin and piano by Szymanowski, Dohnányi & Bartók
Elizabeth Chang, violin
Steven Beck, Piano
(CD) BRIDGE 9590
Release Date: May 17, 2024
I was notified about the new CD from Bridge Records, Sonatas and Myths, by PR email. I get about a hundred of this type of email a week—you would not believe the number of new recordings and the huge variety of rarely-heard composers getting some love. It’s kind of refreshing in this “we’ve heard all there is to hear” world.
The striking cover intrigued me to investigate further. Bridge Records was kind enough to ship a CD to the island—nowadays, you’ll get a streaming link, but no CD or vinyl. Makes sense. But, when I want to do a full review of a recording, I always request a physical copy. My intrigue was heightened by the Apple Music teaser of track one that was available well before the May 17 street date.
The track one snippet was an earworm. A classy one. Every time I hear a work by Polish composer Karol Szymanowski (1882–1937), I tell myself to investigate his work. Whether it is the Berlin Phil playing a section of a symphony on its YouTube channel or Apple Music suggesting this superb new recording of his Mythes, Op. 30 (1930), I always want to hear more.
American violinist Elizabeth Chang with accompanist Steven Beck gives us a superb performance of this most evocative work. Think Ravel and Debussy through a Polish prism. The three-movement work is based on themes of Greek mythology and contains beautiful melodies with highly interesting figures on the piano. From the opening piano vamp and the elegiac violin writing, I think you’ll be hooked. This deeply committed performance level continues through the CD.
Elizabeth Chang, violin. Photo credit: Matt Dine.
Elizabeth Chang is a Boston-trained violinist (Harvard and the New England Conservatory) and has performed with the Orchestra of St. Luke's and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and teaches at the Juilliard School’s pre-college division. She is blessed with a beautiful tone, has fascinating musical ideas and a technique to burn. Juilliard grad Steven Beck on piano is no less accomplished.
Steven Beck, piano. Photo credit: Hiroyuki Ito for The New York Times
The performances of the sonatas by Ernst von Dohnányi and Béla Bartók are no less distinguished. Dohnányi, a Hungarian, was only 20 years old when Brahms died, but the great man’s influence is felt in all three movements of his Violin Sonata in C♯ minor Op. 21 (1912). The structure is formal and the music as broad and beautiful as Brahms. But it’s far more than cobbled together Brahms. And Chang and Beck deliver a wonderful performance. On paper, the sonata would appear to give few of the technical challenges of the other two works; nonetheless, a fascinating work.
The famous Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano (1921) by Béla Bartók is an altogether different proposition than the Symanowski and Dohnányi works. Utterly original and without the Debussy/Ravel or Brahms influences, from the opening notes, you are in Bartók’s unique sound world with all the genius and violin techniques on display. And performed brilliantly by Chang and Beck. And the collaborative demands hold no fear for these superb musicians.
A particularly challenging ensemble passage in the opening movement of Bartók’s Sonata No. 1. Passages such as these are peppered throughout the Sonata.
The recording is as superb as the performances. Both artists are placed well on the soundstage with Chang a little forward of Beck. Both artists’ tones are heard to perfection on this digital treat of an album. A CD I’ll return to often.
Bridge Records, founded by guitarist David Starobin in 1981, “is best known for its recordings of 20th and 21st Century classical repertoire, including decades-long projects devoted to leading composers”. You can add Bridge to the list of top-class outfits producing amazing quality products with wonderful young artists in repertoire choices that need recording, such as Cedille, TRPTK and Eudora Records.
If you still have a CD player, treat yourself and buy this superb disc. If not, it’s available to stream on Apple Music and Qobuz. In either format, you’ll be inspired and thrilled by great musicians performing wonderful repertoire at the highest level. Very highly recommended.
Bridge Records (A press copy CD was provided but Audiophilia has no financial connection).
