Violin Sonatas

Eriikka Maalismaa · Emil Holmström · Richard Strauss · Amy Beach

2021 · ABCD 502

Credits

Performers: Eriikka Maalismaa — ViolinEmil Holmström — Piano
Composers: Richard StraussAmy Beach

About this release

2019 Klassinen Emma winners Maalismaa and Holmström dive with their new record (ALBA) into the gurgling and labyrinthine world of late romanticism with a periodizer. In the great sonatas of Amy Beach and Richard Strauss, northern archaism and southern German decadence engage in dialogue.
Amy Beach from Boston is probably the most pioneering female composer of the turn of the 20th century; a prodigy saved mostly by his own talent. At the age of 18, Beach, who married a surgeon 25 years her senior, composed largely in her home conditions, and, dictated by the conventions of her time, lived a rather limited life of a middle-class lady. However, Beach studied with furious intensity, ending up composing several key works of the North American repertoire. After her husband's death, her career as a piano virtuoso continued.
As a reference for Beach, Maalismaa and Holmström bring up the superstar of their time: Richard Strauss lived a public life and was allowed to realize his passions and artistic talents freely.
The Beach/Strauss record continues the already ongoing discussion: How do we see those settings now? Will Amy Beach take her rightful place in the canon, will we finally begin to recognize the uniqueness and much talked about quality of her tone? Enforced privacy and hidden messages open to interpretation bring a personal color and content to the music, which is an irreplaceable part of music history.
The disc's unconventional visual appearance is the work of artist Aki Turunen. In Turunen's works, sensitivity and art-historical familiarity develop into playful visions: a young Strauss might fly around the headland in an erotic frenzy of flowers, and Amy Beach's wish turns into a deeply passionate red.

Tracks

Sonata for Violin and Piano in E flat major, Op. 18
1.I Allegro, ma non troppocomp. Richard Strauss (1864-1949)ISRC FIABA210005012:07
2.II lmprovisation. Andante cantabilecomp. Richard Strauss (1864-1949)ISRC FIABA21000518:33
3.III Finale. Andante - Allegrocomp. Richard Strauss (1864-1949)ISRC FIABA21000529:18
Sonata for Violin and Piano in A minor, Op. 34 (1896)
4.I Allegro moderatocomp. Amy Beach (1867-1944)ISRC FIABA210005310:52
5.II Scherzo. Maito vivacecomp. Amy Beach (1867-1944)ISRC FIABA21000544:55
6.III Largo con dolorecomp. Amy Beach (1867-1944)ISRC FIABA21000559:23
7.IV Allegro con fuococomp. Amy Beach (1867-1944)ISRC FIABA21000568:31

Reviews

★★★★
R. Strauss & Beach: Viulusonaatit. Maalismaa & Holmström. Alba.
ALLE KOLMIKYMPPISTEN säveltäjien viulusonaatit 1800-luvun lopulta kuohuvat yltäkylläisesti, mutta pysyvät klassisessa muotoperinteessä.
Richard Straussin on niistä koreilevampi ja monisanaisempi, jopa lörpöttelevä, mikä antaa esimakua tulevasta Ruusuritarin säveltäjästä. Amy Beachin verenkierroltaan Brahmsia muistuttavan sonaatin tunnekylläisyys on vakaampaa, mutta myös painokasta ja kiihkeää. Eriikka Maalismaan viulussa…
Yle Uudet levyt
Viulisti Eriikka Maalismaan ja pianisti Emil Holmströmin uutuuslevy upottaa minut vielä syvemmälle romantiikkaan kuin heidän edellinen, tunteiden myllertämisestä Emma-palkittu Schumann-levynsä. Periodiromantiikkaan hurahtanut duo jatkaa tunneilmaisuaan suolikielisellä viululla ja vuoden 1882 Bösendorferilla, mutta musiikki on aivan romantiikan lopusta. Richard Straussin ja Amy Beachin sonaatit osallistuvat taidemusiikin tasa-arvokeskusteluun, mutta miten, sen saa kuulija päättää.
Beach oli…
LEVYTÄRPIT 26.08.2021 18:00 – RISTO NORDELL · Suomen Kuvalehti