Description

Listening to these father/daughter collaborations once again brings the age-old nature vs. nurture debate to the fore. The degree of unity achieved in these performances, both technical and affective, is astonishing, a far cry from a routine run-through by a pair of high-powered virtuosi after a cursory rehearsal. This is musical synergy, hard to explain, impossible to quantify and totally satisfying.

In 2000, a Miami Herald review described the father-daughter team as “perfect partners” who play with “infectious spirit” and drama. And the Frank duo garnered this praise from the New York Times for a recent concert: ”The most striking aspect of the recital was the sheer musicality of these two players. They both knew what to do with Beethoven’s dialect and their unanimity of purpose made for the lively interplay that is chamber music at its best.”

American Record Guide wrote when these recordings first appeared: “Their performances are completely convincing, solid, robust, well-balanced interpretations, with exemplary rapport in phrasing and dynamics and an expert blend of the dramatic and lyrical elements.”

Another reviewer raved: “Both this humble set and the high-profile set by Anne-Sophie Mutter were released in 1999. This one is surprisingly better-father and daughter run through these works with a blistering energy, and yet are sensitive to every nuance; playing marvelously off each other, they still sound completely spontaneous. The ‘Kreutzer’ sonata is a revelation, and its energy blows away Mutter’s more refined reading”. (Allen B. Ruch, Editor The Modern Word; complete review at http://www.greatquail.com/raves_1999.html)

BEETHOVEN: The 10 Sonatas for Violin and Piano. Pamela Frank, Violin; Claude Frank, Piano. A reissue of the acclaimed 1999 Music Masters set, produced 1992-1995 by Max Wilcox, with additional notes by Tully Potter. 4 CDs, Total time: 3 hrs. 56 min. [DDD] UPC # 017685-11432-8.

Disc 1 Sound Clips (MP3):

1. Sonata for violin & piano No. 9 in A major (‘Kreutzer’), Op. 47- 1. Adagio sosteunto- Presto

2. Sonata for violin & piano No. 9 in A major (‘Kreutzer’), Op. 47- 2. Andante con variazioni

3. Sonata for violin & piano No. 9 in A major (‘Kreutzer’), Op. 47- 3. Presto

4. Sonata for violin & piano No. 1 in D major, Op. 12 – 1- 1. Allegro con brio

5. Sonata for violin & piano No. 1 in D major, Op. 12 – 1- 2. Tema con variazioni

6. Sonata for violin & piano No. 1 in D major, Op. 12 – 1- 3. Rondo- Allegro

Disc 2 Sound Clips (MP3):

1. Sonata for violin & piano No. 6 in A major, Op. 30 – 1- 1. Allegro

2. Sonata for violin & piano No. 6 in A major, Op. 30 – 1- 2. Adagio molto expressivo

3. Sonata for violin & piano No. 6 in A major, Op. 30 – 1- 3. Allegretto con variazioni

4. Sonata for violin & piano No. 7 in C minor (‘Eroica’), Op. 30 – 2- 1. Allegro con brio

5. Sonata for violin & piano No. 7 in C minor (‘Eroica’), Op. 30 – 2- 2. Adagio cantabile

6. Sonata for violin & piano No. 7 in C minor (‘Eroica’), Op. 30 – 2- 3. Scherzo-Allegro

7. Sonata for violin & piano No. 7 in C minor (‘Eroica’), Op. 30 – 2- 4. Finale-Allegro

8. Sonata for violin & piano No. 8 in G major, Op. 30 – 3- 1. Allegro

9. Sonata for violin & piano No. 8 in G major, Op. 30 – 3- 2. Tempo di Menuetto, Moderato e Grazioso

10. Sonata for violin & piano No. 8 in G major, Op. 30 – 3- 3. Allegro Vivace

Disc 3 Sound Clips (MP3):

1. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in A major, Op. 12 – 2- 1. Allegro Vivale

2. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in A major, Op. 12 – 2- 2. Adante Piu Tosto Allegretto

3. Sonata for violin & piano No. 2 in A major, Op. 12 – 2- 3. Allegro Piacevole

4. Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 12 – 3- 1. Allegro con spirito

5. Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 12 – 3- 2. Adagio son molta expressione

6. Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 12 – 3- 3. Rondo- Allegro molto

7. Sonata for violin & piano No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23- 1. Presto

8. Sonata for violin & piano No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23- 2. Andante Scnerzoso Div Allegretto

9. Sonata for violin & piano No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23- 3. Allegro molto

Disc 4 Sound Clips (MP3):

1. Sonata for violin & piano No. 10 in G major (‘The Cockcrow’), Op. 96- 1. Allegro moderato

2. Sonata for violin & piano No. 10 in G major (‘The Cockcrow’), Op. 96- 2. Adagio espressivo

3. Sonata for violin & piano No. 10 in G major (‘The Cockcrow’), Op. 96- 3. Scherzo-Allegro

4. Sonata for violin & piano No. 10 in G major (‘The Cockcrow’), Op. 96- 4. Poco Allegretto

5. Sonata for violin & piano No. 5 in F major (‘Spring’), Op. 24- 1. Allegro

6. Sonata for violin & piano No. 5 in F major (‘Spring’), Op. 24- 2. Adagio molto espressivo

7. Sonata for violin & piano No. 5 in F major (‘Spring’), Op. 24- 3. Scherzo-Molto Allegro

8. Sonata for violin & piano No. 5 in F major (‘Spring’), Op. 24- 4. Rondo- Allegro ma non troppo