Cal Performances presents Gidon Kremer and Daniil Trifonov
2015-01-13
First Congregational Church
2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA
8:00 PM, Tuesday, January 13, 2015

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• Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 33 in E-flat major, K. 481
• Glass: Sonata for Violin and Piano
• Weinberg: Sonata No. 3, Op. 126, for Solo Violin
• Schubert: Fantasie in C major, D. 934

[8:00 PM lights down, announcements]

1. [8:04 PM] Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Fantasia No. 3 in D minor, K. 397, (1782): Andante – Adagio – Presto – Tempo primo – Presto – Tempo primo – Allegretto
   [work ends 8:10 PM; off after a minute or so]

Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-1996): Sonata No. 5 for violin and piano, Op. 53 (1953)

1. [8:12 PM] Andante con moto
2. [8:18 PM] Allegro molto
3. [8:24 PM] Allegro moderato
4. [8:29 PM] Allegro - Andante - Allegretto - Andante
   [work ends 8:37 PM; off after a minute or so]

Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 33 in E-flat major, K. 481 (1785)

1. [8:39 PM] Molto allegro
2. [8:46 PM] Adagio
3. [8:55 PM] Allegretto
   [set ends 9:02 PM; off after a minute or so]

[9:23 PM lights down, announcements]

Weinberg: Sonata No. 3 for solo violin, Op. 126 (1979)

1. [9:24 PM] (ca 22 min; ?6 or 7 sections, unmarked by pauses)
   [work ends 9:44 PM; off after a minute or so]

Franz Schubert (1797-1828): Fantasie in C major for piano and violin, Op. 159, D. 934 (1827)

1. [9:46 PM] Andante molto
2. [9:50 PM] Allegretto
3. [9:55 PM] Andantino
4. [10:00 PM] Allegro
5. [10:04 PM] Allegretto
6. [10:07 PM] Presto
   [set ends 10:10 PM; break for applause]

1. [10:14 PM] Giya Kancheli (b.1935): Rag-Gidon-Time (1995)
   [show ends 10:17 PM]

• Gidon Kremer: violin;
• Daniil Trifonov: piano.

Twas an interesting set. Trifonov started things out alone, and without his glasses. His searching, wild-eyed glances, head-bobbing, and full body weaving made for an arresting visual performance, even for a trifle such as the opening Fantasia by Mozart. His appearance in the second half of the set, with glasses to aid in reading the score, was somewhat more sedate, though still fun to watch, especially in noticing his connection to Kremer.

I enjoyed the wandering journey of the middle piece by Weinberg ; as with my introduction to this composer last year, tonight's work made me think I should become more familiar with his book of compositions.

It was interesting to read that the Most sonatas that closed the first set was considered to be a pedestrian work upon first publication. I could hear why some critics might think that the opening sections were a little banal, but the closing movement seemed to me too call for some pretty serious piano chops. Hard to imagine that the average home musician would be able to keep pace with the racing violin in that one!

Returning from break, I was surprised to see that at least a half dozen folks had cleared out of the two rows ahead of me. Maybe they were just tired? I can't imagine they found anything unsatisfactory with the first set. Oh well, I was glad to have a better view of the action!

The Weinberg solo violin sonata that opened three second half was a noisy, craggy piece, full of raspy strokes and unexpected dissonances. Kremer's comments in the program notes suggested that it was a kind of familial portrait by the composer, but I didn't get that on my listen. I found it a startling work; definitely not easy listening, and quite a contrast against everything else on tonight's program.

The concluding sonata from Schubert was really well done. Like the preceding piece, it was written in separate movements that are run together in performance, meaning that my timing guesses are probably good for a laugh or two. Anyways, it was a fun listen.

The encore was almost too clever. A rag performed at a glacially slow tempo, much of the wit and pleasure of listening to the piece consisted of guessing where our when the next cluster of notes would fall. Really fun, but not especially meaty, and almost solely dependent on that single trick to amuse the listener. I'm intrigued to find out what the critics might have to say about that piece!

Niels Swinkels posted a nice review of the show for SFCV.

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2015 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2015 event list! ☸ On to the next event!