Jewish Sonata New Land
The repertoire of viola literature has grown significantly thanks to the first recordings of works by Jewish composers.
The Swiss pianist Timon Altwegg and the Moscow-born violist Hana Gubenko, who are known for their love of discovery, have a new publication to their credit, which surprises exclusively with unknown works by Jewish composers. From the undated Sephardic Poem Apart from Aaron Yalom (1918-2002), they were all composed in the short period from 1972 to 2012 and are committed to sonata form in very different ways.
The two most recent compositions, the 2nd Sonata by Frank Ezra Levy (born 1930) and the Sonata ebraica by Graham Waterhouse (born 1962), bear dedications to the two performers, who are to be praised for their commitment to all the pieces with the same dedication and conviction.
The opening track of the CD, released this year by Edition Kunzelmann, is already a great success, Sephardic Poem by Yalom, has great potential to surprise. The composer, who was born near Geneva as the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants and died in New York, created a bravura piece of strong individuality based on a lyrical theme and enriched with a great deal of pianistic brilliance. The sonorously austere 1st viola sonata by the Basel-born composer, pianist and teacher Ernst Levy also exhibits this, as there are no verbal tempo indications or performance markings in any of the four movements.
In the Sonata ebraica by Waterhouse, which gives the CD its name, presents the Yiddish folk song quoted in the kaddish-like middle movement Oyfn Pripetshik the most clearly audible Jewish reference to the title of the work.
The two compositions by Ernst Levy's son Frank Ezra prove to be particularly rewarding additions to the repertoire. From the one-movement Sonata Ricercare with its frequent changes of meter, the 2nd Sonata differs in its French-like elegance, the smooth flow of the catchier melody and greater contrasts: sonorous organ dots and relentless martellato attacks alternate effectively with wonderfully delicate repetitions of notes in the viola and wittily interspersed jazz rhythms.
Sonata ebraica (compositions by Aaron Yalom, Ernst Levy, Frank Levy, Graham Waterhouse). Hana Gubenko, viola; Timon Altwegg, piano. Guild GMCD 7419
