Hindemith CD new review on Stringendo - AUSTA October 2017

Data pubblicazione: Oct 16, 2017 7:58:44 AM

PAUL HINDEMITH

Four Sonatas for Solo Viola

Laura Menegozzo, viola

SSP 2016

I love the way Hindemith has entitled the fourth movement of his Op.25, No.1 (1922) as “Raging tempo. Wild. Beauty of tone is of secondary importance”. Laura Menegozzo plays this movement brilliantly. However, the highlight of this excellent recording is the Viola Sonata Op.31, No.4 (1924). The first movement is another virtuosic perpetual motion. A Lied follows, exhibiting many contrasting colours while a striking Theme with Variations rounds out the work. The theme is in octaves and in the variations Menegozzo presents a masterful control over all manner of double, triple and quadruple stops over an impressively wide dynamic range. The pizzicato section in the second movement of the Sonata from 1937 is also very effective. The Sonata Op.11, No.5 dated 1919 opens the program and immediately demonstrates Menegozzo’s pure resonant sound with impeccable intonation.

There are no liner notes. Background information and a biography about this fine artist would be very welcome.

Andrew Lorenz