Reger: Sonatas for Violin solo op. 42

Wallin, Ulf

CPO 777762

Max Reger's Sonatas for Solo Violin op. 42 – impressive compositions crafted with the finest art – conclude our complete recording of his violin oeuvre. This extensive oeuvre covers all of Reger's compositional periods (from op. 1 to his last, unfinished op. 147) and attests to the high esteem in which he held the violin and to his affinity for this instrument. Opus 42 represents a supreme challenge for the Swedish violinist Ulf Wallin, both technically and musically. Following his recording of Reger's complete works for violin and piano (Vols. 1-6, soon to be released in a CD box) with Roland Pöntinen, his chamber music partner of many years, and his recording of the Violin Concerto in A major op. 101 and the Aria op. 103 with the Munich Radio Orchestra under the conductor Ulf Schirmer (cpo 777 736-2), Wallin now turns to this group of four sonatas by Reger. It is not without reason that Reger is regarded as the completer of »chromatic polyphony.« One cannot fail to notice that Johann Sebastian Bach was his great model. In expression and harmonic design, however, his musical language instead tended to follow that of Johannes Brahms and Franz Liszt. In his late oeuvre Reger's great love for Mozart is reflected in his efforts to achieve transparency and simplicity. Reger himself described his works as very difficult technically and came to the conclusion that they usually intimidated interpreters – but not Ulf Wallin, who outstandingly meets and masters this challenge.

CD x 1

CPO

3.06.2016

761203776221

Gramophone: 'Gramophone Choice' (2016), Gramophone: 'Holiday Critic’s Choice' (2016)