Indeed, one has only to look in the booklets of numerous
recordings for her name to appear. Her repertoire is vast and her discography
extensive. In 2007 and 2013 Elizabeth Wallfisch was Music Director of National
Music Camp Australia and is currently Artistic Director of The Wallfisch Band,
an international period instrument orchestra that gives talented younger
players the opportunity to play alongside experienced players at the peak of
their profession.
Elizabeth Wallfisch’s is part of a family of musicians.
Indeed her grandfather was the renowned conductor, Albert Coates. She is
married to cellist Raphael Wallfisch and their children, Benjamin Wallfisch,
Simon Wallfisch and Joanna Wallfisch are all outstanding musicians.
Born in Australia, she came to London to study, making her
home there ever since.
Fortepianist and pianist, David Breitman is no less accomplished both in the field of period and
modern performance. He has collaborated with baritone, Sanford Sylvan for many
years, undertaking hundreds of recitals and making a number of recordings,
ranging from Schubert’s Die schöne
Müllerin to The Glass Hammer, a
major song cycle by Cuban-American composer, Jorge Martin. Breitman has also
recorded Mozart’s sonatas for violin and piano, on period instruments, with
Jean-François Rivest for Analekta. He is one of seven fortepianists on a 10 CD
recording of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas on Claves as well as having recorded
the Beethoven cello sonatas with another fine period instrument musician, Jaap
ter Linden.
He is Director of the Historical Performance Program at
Oberlin Conservatory where he teaches fortepiano and clavichord as well as
courses in performance practice.
Both Elizabeth
Wallfisch and David Breitman have come together on a new 2 CD release from
Nimbus www.wyastone.co.uk/all-labels/nimbus/nimbus-alliance.html featuring
Beethoven’s violin sonatas. This set is volume one of a projected complete
cycle of these works by these artists.
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| 2CD NI 6245/6 |
Elizabeth Wallfisch plays a violin by Ekkard Seidl (1997), a copy of Guarnerius del Gésu and uses a bow by James Dodd dating from around the 1780’s.
David Breitman will be using three different fortepianos
during this cycle but on volume one he plays a five octave fortepiano by the
eminent maker Paul McNulty www.fortepiano.eu , a copy of an Anton Walter instrument of 1792. This instrument, as heard on
these recordings, has a clarity combined with a rather more full bodied lower
register.
The sonatas on these discs are taken in chronological order,
enabling us to follow Beethoven’s development during these earlier years.
In the Allegro con
brio of Sonata No.1 in D major,
Op.12 No.1 one is immediately struck by the more intimate sound that these period
instruments bring, with Elizabeth Wallfisch providing a crystal clear yet
sweetly singing tone. David Breitman provides
crisply drawn phrasing and ensemble is absolutely superb. This duo brings a
lightness of touch combined with moments of real poetry. There is a beautifully
paced Tema con variazioni (Andante con
moto) with lovely little forward surges that bring a playfulness to the
music. There is some exquisite playing here from both artists and not a little
passion in certain of the variations. The joyful Rondo (Allegro) has the atmosphere of two fine artists enjoying
themselves. Both seem to enjoy responding to each other with some lovely crisp
playing with Wallfisch, often adding a melancholy vein before the end.
The feeling of joy and exuberance is carried into the
brilliant Allegro vivace of Sonata No.2 in A major, Op.12 No.2 with, again, these two players
responding so well to each other. One cannot help but get swept up in
Beethoven’s creative impulse. Towards the end there are some lovely little
conversations between the two instruments. In the Andante più tosto allegretto, for the first time in these sonatas,
Beethoven allows a greater depth to appear, with the violin of Wallfisch crying
out from the bleak sound world of Breitman’s fortepiano. These players bring a
subtle rhythmic sway to the Allegro
piacevole, again responding to each other so well. There is some especially
fine playing in this movement with some lovely, sensitive details exquisitely
brought out by both players.
The opening of the Allegro
con spirito of Sonata in E flat
major, Op.12 No.3 brings some impressive fortepiano playing from Breitman
with Wallfisch giving a lovely singing tone to Beethoven’s fine melody. This is
a more ambitious movement with many more challenges for the players. Indeed, a
contemporary commentator described these sonatas generally as ‘heavily laden
with unusual difficulties.’
Often there is real Beethovenian power and thrust from the
players as well as some lovely phrasing.
The opening of the Adagio
con molt’espressione is beautifully done, again with an intimate feel.
These players lead the listener so sensitively through the lovely development
of this fine movement, arguably one of Beethoven’s finest early slow movements.
There are passionate outbursts from violin and fortepiano towards the end
perhaps indicating Beethoven’s troubled nature even at this comparatively early
age. The lively Rondo (Allegro molto)
brings more, lovely phrasing and spot on precision from these two players, as
well as an infectious flow.
Wallfisch and Breitman bring a breath of fresh air to the Presto of Sonata No.4 in A minor, Op.23 with more fine interplay between
these artists as well as plenty of brio and rhythmic thrust. In the Andante scherzoso, più allegretto these
players bring out all the wit of Beethoven’s writing in this unusual yet
strangely captivating movement. The lively Allegro
Molto has moments where these players bring such finesse and lovely little
details before a taut, musical flow leads to some fabulously fast moving
passages brilliantly played.
The Allegro of
Beethoven’s Sonata No. 5 in F major,
Op.24 ‘Spring’ brings a beautifully lyrical outflowing, with Wallfisch and
Breitman sharing the lovely melody. These artists bring out all the lively
dynamics of the music as well as providing many poetical moments. This is fine
music making. What fine sounds there are in the Adagio molto espressivo, lovely colours and hushed timbres from Wallfisch’s
instrument with Breitman providing a delightful flow of accompaniment. Molto espressivo this certainly is and
with such poetry.
The brief Scherzo
(Allegro molto) is crisp and lithe before the Rondo (Allegro ma non troppo) that has such expressive playing.
Wallfisch really soars at times in a terrific outflowing of musical invention,
superbly realised.
Elizabeth Wallfisch and David Breitman bring a freshness to
these sonatas that is entirely beguiling and, as such, make a valuable addition
to the catalogue. I will certainly be looking forward to hearing more in this
cycle.
They receive an excellent recording that places the
performers right in one’s room. The documentation is first rate with photographs
of the fortepianos to be used in this series, instrumental details and notes by
both performers.
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