Beethoven: The Violin Sonatas

There are two really famous Beethoven violin sonatas, the Kreutzer and the Spring. The Kreutzer Sonata inspired the story by Leo Tolstoy, which in turn became the subject of Janácek's First String Quartet, so if you're into comparative studies in the arts, there's a thesis topic for you! The Spring Sonata was featured in Woody Allen's Love and Death, among other places. And perhaps most intriguingly of all, the scherzo of the late sonata, Op. 96, turns up quite clearly in the third movement of Mahler's Second Symphony. So you may already know more about this splendid music than you think. Why not take the plunge with these superb performances and get to know the sonatas at first hand? Just as there are two truly famous Mozart sonatas, there are also two sides to Itzhak Perlman's musical career--the flashy virtuoso and the considerate partner. Chamber-music recordings such as this feature Perlman in this second role, one that gets less attention than his other, more sensational, persona, but which for many listeners is even more musically rewarding. Ashkenazy, no mere accompanist, is very much involved in the proceedings, and the two musicians combine to produce one of the finest sets of Beethoven violin sonatas available as well as one of Perlman's very greatest recordings in any genre. --David Hurwitz Amazon.com essential recording

Really excellent

Another reviewer has described Perlman and Ashkenazy as "giants" in their respective fields. I would not seek to dispute their stature but such is not of itself sufficient to generate a satisfying performance. I prefer Milstein's recordings of the Bach unaccompanied violin works to those of Perlman; I like Brendel's interpretations of the Beethoven piano sonatas in preference to Ashkenazy's. But the synergy developed between Ashkenazy and Perlman on the four discs of these Decca recordings is palpable.

The Beethoven violin sonatas are wonderful works - all of them, not just the Kreutzer and the Spring which are more widely known than the others. It seems to me that no collection of chamber music could claim to be anywhere near complete in the absence of these sonatas which represent Beethoven at his extraordinary best.

The playing here is first class in every respect. I sometimes find Perlman's playing more technical than musical but not in this instance - these are warm and beautifully balanced performances with an obvious empathy established between piano and violin. This same balance extends to the recording itself which is faultless.

This set is very fine indeed. December 18, 2007

Greatest cycle of the greatest violin sonatas ever

I agree that this is the greatest cycle of the greatest set of violin sonatas ever written. Gidon and Argerich are also good but Argerich doesn't articulate her notes clearly like Ashkenazy. You feel that Argerich is kind of "cheating" by skimming to lightly over some notes - whereas Beethoven needs to be played with a greater force. Ashkenazy provides just the right kind of Beethovenian playing.

This set also contains the greatest performance of the greatest violin sonata ever written - the Kreutzer - plus a highly delectable Spring sonata.

If you're not familiar with the rest of Beethoven's sonatas, you'll be surprised at how magnetic they are in the hands of musicians the likes of Ashkenazy and Perlman.

I cannot recommend this too highly. Enjoy. May 10, 2004

Best complete set I know of

There are probably better-known recordings of the individual sonatas, but if you are looking for a consistently good collection from start to finish, this would be it, especially if you are familiar only with the Spring & Kreutzer sonatas. This is a collection that gets wonderfully intimate at times, and is a consistent delight to the listener. This is definitely a worthy addition to any collection. March 31, 2004

Magnetic from start to finish!!

This classic set is magnetic from the first note to the last. If you haven't heard it, you haven't heard Beethoven's Violin Sonatas. January 5, 2004

Two contemporary musical masters pay homage

Listen to this music if you want a searching, thoughtful dialog by the Great Brooder between two superb interpreters of their respective instruments....two instruments only, that manage to fill the room and the world completely.....
Listen with the best equipment you can justify, because this music alone justifies the technology- the access of which to the common man fulfills Beethoven's wildest, unnamed hope. August 8, 2002

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