WILLIAM PRIMROSE: CRITICS' CHOICE FOR VIOLA (3 CDs)

[CD2] “the depth of rich and floated tone … tremendously impressive … pizzicato spot on … rhythmic nuances conveyed with dazzling precision” [CD3] “These discs reveal Primrose in all his technical and expressive glory. The range of tone-colours is phenomenal, the left hand performing feats of digital dexterity . .. the bow arm’s seductive slowness or biting incision …Transfers are vital and lifelike” (MusicWeb International)

 CD1:

MOZART: DUO No.2 in B-FLAT (K.424)

1. I. Adagio – Allegro

2. II. Andante Cantabile

3. III. Andante Grazioso Con Variazioni

with Jascha Heifetz, violin

Recorded 22/5 and 28/9, 1941; first issued Victor 18195/97 (matrices CS065641/45)

DOHNANYI: SERENADE in C (0p.10)

4. I. Marcia

5. II. Romanza

6. III. Scherzo

7. IV Tema Con Variazioni

8. V. Rondo Finale

with Jascha Heifetz, violin, Emmanuel Feuermann, cello

Recorded 8/9, 1941; first issued Victor 118176/78 (matrices PCS061590/95)

9. HANDEL: ADAGIO from TRIO SONATA in E (0p.2 No.8) recorded on 1/7/1941; first issued on Victor 18238 (matrices CS 066350)

Albert Spalding (violin), Andre Benoist (piano)

CASADESUS: /’HANDEL’ CONCERTO in B MINOR recorded on 8 May 1946; first issued on RCA Victor 11-9612/4 [M 1131] (matrices D6-RC-5829/33)

10. I. Allegro Moderato

11. II. Andante ma non Troppo

12. III. Allegro Molto

10-12 with the Victor Symphony /Frieder Weissmann

Johann Gottleib GRAUN (’W. F. BACH’) SONATA in C Minor recorded on 23 November 1938; first issued on RCA Victor 18107/8 [M 807] (matrices CS 030304/7)

13. I. Adagio e Mesto

14. II. Allegro non Troppo

15. III. Allegro Scherzando

with Yella Pessl (harpsichord)

16.MENDELSSOHN: MAY BREEZES, Op.62 No.1 recorded 17 December 1947; unissued on 78 rpm discs (matrix D7-RB-2838)

17.TCHAIKOVSKY: ANDANTE CANTABILE recorded 17 December 1947; 1st issued RCA Victor 12-0287 (matrix D7-RC-8251)

18.KREISLER: LIEBESLEID recorded 17 December 1947; 1st issued RCA Victor 12-0287 (matrix D7-RC-8250)

with David Stimer (piano)

CD2:

BAX: VIOLA SONATA in G (1921) recorded in 22 July 1937 and 12 May 1939; first issued on Columbia ROX 179/82 (matrices CAX 8047/53)

1. I. Molto Moderato- Allegro – Piu Lento

2. II. Allegro Energico Ma Non Troppo – Presto

3. III. Molto Lento

Harriet Cohen (piano)

HINDEMITH: VIOLA SONATA in F, Op.11 No.4 (1922) [14:59] recorded on 18 November 1938; first issued on RCA Victor 15367/8 [M 547) (matrices CS 028979/82)

4. I. Fantasie: Ruhig

5. II. Theme mit Variationen

6. Variation 1

7. Variation 2

8. Variation 3

9. Variation 4

10..III. Finale (mit Variationen)

11. Variation 5

12 Variation 6 (Fugato)

13. Variation 7 (Coda)

Jesus Maria Sanroma (piano)

14-15. HARRIS: SOLILOQUY and DANCE recorded on 12 January 1942 first issued on RCA Victor 11-9212/3 (M 1061] (matrices CS 045772/5)

Johana Harris (piano)

16-18. BENJAMIN: ELEGY, WALTZ and TOCCATA Recorded 22 May 1945; 1st issued RCA Victor 11-9210/1 [M 1061] (matrices D5-RC446/9)

19. BENJAMIN: JAMAICAN RHUMBA recorded on 22 May 1945; first issued on RCA Victor 11-8947 (matrix D5-RC-451)

20. BENJAMIN: MATTY RAG Recorded on 22 May 1945; first issued on RCA Victor 11-8947 (matrix D5-RC-451)

21. BENJAMIN: COOKIE recorded on 22 May 1945; first issued on RCA Victor 11-8947 (matrix D5-RC-450)

22. BENJAMIN: FROM SAN DOMINGO recorded on 22 May 1945; first issued on RCA Victor 11-8947 (matrix D5-RC-450)

with Vladimir Sokoloff (piano)

CD3:

BRAHMS: VIOLA SONATA No.1 in F MINOR (0p.120 No.1) recorded on 7 May 1946; first issued on Victor 11-9487/9 [M-1106) (matrices D6-RC-5837/42)

1. I. Allegro Appassionato

2. II. Andante un Poco Adagio

3. III. Allegretto Grazioso

4. IV. Vivace

William Kapell (piano)

BRAHMS: TWO SONGS for ALTO (Op.91) with VIOLA OBBLIGATO and PIANO recorded 30 June 1941; first issued on Victor 11-18507/8 [M-882] (matrices CS-066342/5)

5. Gestillte Sehnsucht 7:16

6. Gestillte Wiegenlied

Marian Anderson (contralto) & Franz Rupp (piano)

7. J S BACH: AIR from SUITE No.3 recorded 17 December 1947; 1st issued RCA Victor 12-1109 (matrix D7-RC-8253)

HAYDN (arr. Piatigorsky): DIVERTIMENTO recorded 17 December 1947; 1st issued RCA Victor 12-0698 (matrices D7-RC-8244/5)

8. I. Adagio

9. II. Menuet

10. III. Allegro di Molto

11. KREISLER: SCHOöN ROSMARIN 4 recorded on 17 December 1947; unissued on 78 rpm discs (matrix D7-R13-2837)

12.MYRONOFF: CAPRICE recorded 17 December 1947; 1st issued RCA Victor 10-1476 (matrix D7-RC-2840)

13. MILHAUD (arr. Levy): LEMA recorded on 17 December 1947; unissued on 78 rpm discs (matrix D7-RC-8249)

14. MILHAUD (arr. Levy): IPANEMA recorded on 17 December 1947; unissued on 78 rpm discs (matrix D7-RC-8249)

15. VALE (arr. Heifetz): AO PE DA FOGUEIRA recorded 17 December 1947; 1st issued RCA Victor 12-1109 (matrix D7-RC-8252)

16.AGUIRRE (arr. Heifetz): HUELLA recorded 17 December 1947; 1st issued RCA Victor 12-1109 (matrix D7-RC-8252) ZIMBALIST: SARASATEANA recorded on 17 December 1947; first issued on RCA Victor 10-1441/2 [MO 1242] (matrices D7-RC-2829/32)

17. I. TANGO

18. II. POLO

19. III. MALAGUENA

20. IV. ZAPATEADO
David Stimer (piano)]