Composer: Eugène Ysaÿe
Performer: James Ehnes
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Onyx
Release: 2021
Size: 1.15 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 27
01. I. Grave. Lento assai
02. II. Fugato. Molto moderato
03. III. Allesgretto poco scherzoso. Amabile
04. IV. Finale con brio. Allegro fermo
Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 27
05. I. Prelude “Obession” (Poco vivace)
06. II. Malinconia (Poco lento)
07. III. Sarabande “Danse des ombres” (Lento)
08. IV. Les Furies (Allegro furioso)
Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 27
09. I. Ballade. Lento molto sostenuto – Allegro in tempo giusto e con bravura
Sonata for solo violin in E minor, Op. 27 No. 4
10. I. Allemande. Lento maestoso
11. II. Sarabande. Quasi lento
12. III. Finale. Presto ma non troppo
Sonata No. 5 in G Major, Op. 27
13. I. L’Aurore. Lento assai
14. II. Danse rustique. Allegro giocoso molto moderato
Sonata No. 6 in E Major, Op. 27
15. Allegro giusto non troppo vivo
Multi award-winning violinist James Ehnes recorded this album during lockdown at his home. Recording commenced in the early hours of the morning when all was quiet in the house. The solo violin, recorded in the small hours during these troubled times, makes for a powerful and intimate listening experience. Ysaÿe’s six sonatas for solo violin are, together with JS Bach’s Sonatas & Partitas, the most important extended works for the solo violin. Ysaÿe composed each one of them with a particular violinist in mind, capturing their personality and characteristics of their playing.
These sonatas represent the stylistic bridge between the old and the new, between tradition and improvisation, offering a glimpse into a ‘golden’ era of fast evolving traditions of playing, of which Ysaÿe was one of the leading voices.