Ernő Dohnányi; Leoš Janáček - Violin Sonatas (Hagai Shaham; Arnon Erez)

Information

Composer: Ernő Dohnányi; Leoš Janáček

• Dohnányi - Violin Sonata in C sharp minor, Op. 21
• Dohnányi - Ruralia hungarica, Op. 32c
• Dohnányi - Romanza (No. 3 from Orchestral Suite No. 1, Op. 19) (arr. Jascha Heifetz)
• Janáček - Violin Sonata, JW VII/7
• Janáček - Dumka, JW VII/4: Con moto
• Janáček - Romance, JW VII/3
• Janáček - Allego (discarded from JW VII/7)
• Janáček - Lístek odvanutý (No. 2 from 'On the overgrown path', JW VIII/17) (arr. Jan Štedron)

Hagai Shaham, violin

Arnon Erez, piano

Date: 2010

Label: Hyperion

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Review

Janácek and Dohnányi present an interesting contrast, both growing up within the Germanic Romantic milieu while conscious of a separate national identity. Janácek, however, departed in an increasingly radical way from the tradition, whereas Dohnányi’s outlook remained conservative, adapting rather than discarding his heritage. His 1912 Sonata often suggests Brahms but with a more modern sense of unease and restlessness. Shaham and Erez give an excellent performance, Shaham’s seductive tone and elegant phrasing being well matched by Erez’s sensitive touch. The Ruralia hungarica pieces show the composer’s more nationalistic side but are still fairly traditional in their approach to folk material. Shaham is in his element here – the brilliant final piece carefree and dashing in style, the preceding, improvisatory Andante rubato alla zingaresca graceful and stylish. Some listeners, however, may prefer Philippe Graffin’s more intense, dramatic way with this piece (Onyx, 2/09).

The Janácek items range over 40 years, from the quite formal Romance to the mature Sonata. Of particular interest is the Allegro – the discarded original finale of the Sonata, which uses material subsequently incorporated into the Sonata’s third movement. Again, these are all appealing, finely judged performances, but I do feel in the Sonata that this immensely polished, civilised playing fails to express some of the raw emotion. In the finale especially, Réka Szilvay’s interjections at the start are more ferocious, as the composer demands (Alba, 2/07), and she and Christoph Berner arrive at the maestoso climax with greater conviction than Shaham and Erez. However, this is still a very fine recital.

— Duncan Druce

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Ernő Dohnányi (27 July 1877 – 9 February 1960) was a Hungarian composer, pianist and conductor. Dohnányi studied in Budapest at the Royal Academy of Music. As a pianist he traveled widely and established a reputation as one of the best performers of his day. In 1948 he left Hungary as a political exile and became a U.S. citizen in 1955. Dohnányi's music, which was chiefly influenced by Johannes Brahms, was late Romantic and conservative in style, and after 1910 he occupied only a minor place among contemporary Hungarian composers. His works include three symphonies, a ballet, three operas, and chamber works.

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Hagai Shaham (born July 8, 1966) is an Israeli violin virtuoso. He began studying the violin at the age of six and was the last student of the late Professor Ilona Feher. In September 1990, Shaham and his duo partner Arnon Erez won the first prize at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich. As a soloist he has performed with many of the world's major orchestras, as well as in recitals and chamber music performances. Shaham regularly tours throughout Europe, and North and South America, performing at international recital series and festivals. He has recorded for the Biddulph, Hyperion, Avie and Naxos labels.

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Arnon Erez is an acclaimed Israeli pianist. A graduate of the Rubin Academy of Music, Tel Aviv University, he pursued further chamber music studies in the United States with the Guarneri Quartet. His international career began in 1990, after winning—together with his duo partner Hagai Shaham—the ARD International Music Competition in Munich. As a concert pianist, Erez has performed in numerous major concert halls and festivals around the world. He has recorded for several labels such as Hyperion, Biddulph and Nimbus. Erez currently teaches at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music.

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