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MOZART, BEETHOVEN, BRAHMS MOZART Violin Sonata in A, K 526 BEETHOVEN Violin Sonata No. 2 BRAHMS Violin Sonata No. 3 • ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS CD3 [70 mins]
These are compelling duo recordings of well-remembered famous performers of the past, though Peter Katin b. 1930 is happily still alive. Recommended, and do explore this small label *. Peter Grahame Woolf Brahms’s Third Sonata, recorded in Campoli’s home, offers some spiky moments in the first movement (as well as some seeming roughness at climaxes). The instruments sound as though they’re placed closer together in this venue, and their sounds seem correspondingly less antiphonal than they did in the first two Sonatas. Campoli’s violin projects a ruddy autumnal glow at the end of the first movement, and especially at the end of the second. - - Given the startling realism of the recorded sound, it’s perhaps fitting that the program consists of repertoire in which the two instruments form a true partnership. Considering that Campoli served Terry as a hero, however, it’s clear that Terry, in his turn, served his hero exceptionally well. That hero also served himself well—these live performances sound communicative as well as brilliant: far from superficial, they richly deserve the lavish package in which they’ve been wrapped. This issue deserves to be a part of most collections. - - Very strongly recommended. Robert Maxham [Fanfare Magazine]. * P.S. It is a pleasure to add reminiscences of Campoli by Geoffrey Terry, his friend and the recording engineer of this important release. PGW - - Having been born with such a natural talent Alfredo Campoli (b. Rome 1906 d. Berkshire 1991) might, reasonably, have been expected to build his life around that talent. He did not; he enjoyed many activities and simply played when asked. It was an unusual talent in the sense that he might be compared with Maria Callas or Luciano Pavarotti, not only because his tone was absolutely unique but also because he based his approach to performance on ‘bel canto’. Just a few notes and his wonderful sound is instantly recognisable. Unfortunately, the recordings of his performances that remain, although providing some insight into his tone and style, do not do full justice to the enormous sound he drew from the instrument. During the depression there was little demand for a soloist and Alfredo formed his Salon Orchestra and the Welbeck Light Quartet, playing at restaurants in London, and other such venues. He first appeared at a Prom in 1938 and during the Second World War gave numerous concerts for the Allied troops. After the war, he had extended tours of Europe, Southeast Asia, New Zealand, and Australia, and eventually clocked up over 1,000 BBC broadcasts. The current masters of that illustrious body have since forgotten his great contribution to the broadcasts of that time and show no interest whatever in permitting listeners to hear his glorious sound. Alfredo Campoli owned the Dragonetti Stradivarius, but it was his 1843 Rocca that he used predominantly, the Dragonetti being housed in the bank for security. Alfredo made his American début in 1953 (Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole with the NY Phil under George Szell) and in 1955 gave the first performance of the Violin Concerto by Sir Arthur Bliss, written for him. In 1956 he twice toured the Soviet Union. He considered the phrasing of each passage and if he could achieve 'bel canto' by shortening or lengthening a note, then he would do so. He was not afraid to lift the bow from the strings, an act that seems to be completely avoided by today's exponents of the instrument. Brief breaks of sound can add tremendous drama and power to a performance, even when not indicated by the composer. In 1961 I made a recording of Alfredo Campoli playing the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Hayes Orchestra in Bromley, Kent. The cadenza from the first movement is just a miracle. My wife and I subsequently visited Alfredo at his home in Southgate on many occasions and I had the great pleasure and privilege of recording him in rehearsal with Peter Katin. Daphne Ibbott and Valerie Tryon, I also promoted his last Queen Elizabeth Hall recital, which I also recorded and will published at a later date. In 1963 I recorded a lunchtime recital in the Fairfield Halls Croydon, given by Alfredo with the formidable British pianist Peter Katin. Two sonatas from that recording have now been published, together, with a Brahms sonata, recorded by the same duo in Alfredo’s Southgate home, to create a new CD; reviews of which are quoted below. The recording in Alfredo’s home was made in his music room, a rectangular room approximately eight metres by four; in Vienna in the days of Brahms composers were more likely to hear their works performed in private homes, palaces and castles rather than in concert halls, the sound quite different to that of a purpose built concert hall. It is an intimate sound, an historic document of the great maestro performing in his own home. Lovers of the violin who did not hear Alfredo Campoli playing in a live situation missed the opportunity to hear probably the greatest, English violinist. I have decided to devote as much time as possible to issuing the substantial collection of private recordings I made of him during our years of friendship, with the blessing of his then surviving widow, Joy Campoli.
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