Mieczysław Weinberg: Complete Works for Violin and Piano, Volume Four
In the past twenty years the Polish-born, Moscow-based Mieczysław Weinberg (1919–96) has been recognised as one of the major voices in twentieth-century music, equivalent in stature to his close friend Dmitry Shostakovich. This fourth and final volume of his music for solo violin, violin and piano and two violins completes the only survey to take all of these works into account. It presents music ranging from a startingly assured early score by the teenage Weinberg to works in which his personality is fully established and instantly recognisable.
Yuri Kalnits, violin
Igor Yuzefovich, violin (10–12)
Michael Csányi-Wills, piano (1–9)
Listen To This Recording:
- I Allegretto cantabile
- II Cadenza. Lento – Adagio
- III Allegro moderato poco rubato
- No. 1 Andantino
- No. 2 Larghetto
- No. 1 Nocturne. Moderato
- No. 2 Scherzo. Allegro
- No. 3 Dream about a Doll. Moderato
- Largo in F
- I Allegro molto
- II Adagio
- III Allegro
Concertino in A minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 42 (1948)
Two Songs without Words (1947)
Three Pieces for Violin and Piano (1934–35)
Sonata Movement (1944)
Sonata for Two Violins, Op. 69 (1959)
FIRST COMPLETE RECORDING
The Whole Note :
‘Mieczysław Weinberg Complete Works for Violin and Piano, Volume Four completes the series of music by the Polish-born Soviet composer and close friend of Shostakovich that began in September 2010. Yuri Kalnits is the excellent violinist and Michael Csányi-Wills the equally fine pianist.
[…] excellent disc and series.’
—Terry Robbins, The Whole Note
Classical Music Sentinel :
‘This release concludes the noteworthy complete overview of the works for solo violin, and violin and piano, by Polish composer Mieczyslaw Weinberg (1919-1996), performed by violinist Yuri Kalnits and pianist Michael Csányi-Wills. A highly credible and authentic grasp of his music has been apparent right from the start, as the previous reviews of Volume 1 and Volume 3 will affirm. […]
In the end though, [his music] always a highly rewarding and penetrating musical experience. A composer well worth investigating.
—Jean-Yves Duperron, Classical Music Sentinel
Strad :
‘Sympathetic performances of a composer overshadowed by Shostakovich.’
—Matthew Rye, Strad
BBC Music Magazine :
‘These solo and chamber works burnish Weinberg’s reputation as a composer of of ten extraordinarily heartfelt music. The Concertino for Violin and Piano is lyrical; the Three Pieces for Violin and Piano, written in adolescence, already show great command of form and mood.’
—BBC Music Magazine, March 2023