Joseph Szigeti (violin)
The Late Recitals in France
rec. 1956-1958
MELOCLASSIC MC2040 [75:35 + 73:34]
These two recitals from the Prades Festival 1956 with Mieczysław Horszowski and the Royaumont Festival 1958 with Naum Sluszny came late in Szigeti’s career. He was now in his sixties, and throughout this decade he’d begun to develop arthritis in his hands, resulting in a progressive deterioration in his playing. In mitigation, however, his formidable intellect and musical expression remained intact, and his audiences continued to pack the venues in which he appeared. Between these two recitals, in 1957, he was invited back to Budapest by the communist regime to give concerts. Although he hadn’t visited the city since 1939, he vowed never to return “until Hungary is free”.
These late recordings do document startlingly a gradual deterioration in Szigeti’s technique. His vibrato, which was always weighted towards the slow side, became even slower, and the tone production lost some of its burnished bloom. None of this, however, distracts from his compelling musicality. His Mozart Sonatas remain elegant and suffused with grace and charm. Tempi are comfortable and the performances showcase some stylish playing.
Szigeti was a strong advocate of new music and many contemporary composers dedicated new works to him. The Royaumont recital features music by Hindemith, Stravinsky and Webern. Hindemith’s Sonata in E major dates from 1935 and is cast in two movements. The first is flowing and lyrical, and Szigeti beautifully contours the melody. The second movement begins slowly, but opens out into a lively scherzo full of elation and optimism. Stravinsky’s Duo Concertant dates from 1932, and was dedicated to the violinist Samuel Dushkin. This five-movement work draws its inspiration from neo-classical literature, from which it takes its titles: Cantilène, Eclogue 1, Eclogue 2, Gigue, and Dithyrambe. The angular and abrasive Cantilène sits in total contrast to the two Eglogues which follow. The second, especially, is lyrically tender and warm. Gigue is jaunty and fickle, whilst Dithyrambe is radiant and transcending. Webern’s Op 7 is marked by brevity and concision. The four pieces last just over four minutes. They are performed here with exactness and rhythmical exactitude. Naum Sluszny is a very responsive partner throughout.
The two radio interviews, which predate the recitals by a year or so, reveal the violinist to be both intelligent and articulate. In the first, from New York in December 1954, Szigeti talks about the joys and the difficulties the touring virtuoso encounters. He’s very anxious to discuss his latest project or venture, a paper commissioned by the Congress for Cultural Freedom entitled “Composers, Interpreters and the Public”. A year later he was interviewed by Howard Nelson in the Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Szigeti opens by relating the very positive response he received from a recital in Boston he’d just given, especially from young people, which he found very encouraging. He goes on to talk about a recent tour of Japan, musical education and his collaborations with Casals and Myra Hess at the Prades Festival.
The two recitals present very different audio experiences. The Mozart recital from the Prades Festival 1956 with Mieczysław Horszowski on piano is compromised by muddied sound. The violin is forwardly profiled but the piano is dimly recessed. The Royaumont Festival recital, taped two years later with Naum Sluszny, is in brighter sound with a better balance struck between the two instruments.
Stephen Greenbank
Contents
CD 1 [75:35]
MOZART: Violin Sonata in B-flat major, KV 378/317d
MOZART: Violin Sonata in E minor, KV 304/300c
MOZART: Violin Sonata in G major, KV 379/373a
Joseph Szigeti ∙ violin
Mieczysław Horszowski ∙ piano
Recorded ∙ 17 July 1956 ∙ Prades ∙ Église Saint Pierre ∙ RTF ∙ Live Recording
Joseph Szigeti interview with James Fassett
Recorded ∙ 26 December 1954 ∙ New York City ∙ Carnegie Hall ∙ Radio WSOY
Joseph Szigeti interview with Howard Nelson
Recorded ∙ 11 November 1955 ∙ Cambridge ∙ Sanders Theater ∙ Radio WEEI
CD 2 [73:34]
SCHUBERT: Violin Sonata in D major, D 384
BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No 1 in G major, Op 78
HINDEMITH: Violin Sonata in E major (1935)
STRAVINSKY: Duo concertant (1932)
WEBERN: Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op 7
Joseph Szigeti ∙ violin
Naum Sluszny ∙ piano
Recorded ∙ 27 April 1958 ∙ Asnières sur Oise ∙ Royaumont Abbey ∙ RTF ∙ Live Recording
