Mozart: Violin Sonatas (DVD)

Background:

When it comes to prodigious over-achievers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has to be placed somewhere at the top of the list. Despite his tragically short life from 1756-1791, his musical creativity has assured him of eternal fame as long as human civilisation performs Western classical music.

But when one considers Mozart's background, one can understand where his genius came from. His father Leopold Mozart was ...
...a standard read for any aspiring violin student today. It is also worth considering how things might have been different had female instrumentalists been able to pursue a professional career as adults - as his beloved sister Nannerl was no mean keyboard player, but obviously once she became an adult it was not really considered the done thing for her to continue her career...

As children, Mozart and Nannerl had toured over Europe ... more

Background:

When it comes to prodigious over-achievers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has to be placed somewhere at the top of the list. Despite his tragically short life from 1756-1791, his musical creativity has assured him of eternal fame as long as human civilisation performs Western classical music.

But when one considers Mozart's background, one can understand where his genius came from. His father Leopold Mozart was a virtuoso violinist whose treatise on violin playing is still a standard read for any aspiring violin student today. It is also worth considering how things might have been different had female instrumentalists been able to pursue a professional career as adults - as his beloved sister Nannerl was no mean keyboard player, but obviously once she became an adult it was not really considered the done thing for her to continue her career...

As children, Mozart and Nannerl had toured over Europe under the strict supervision of their father - primarily to show off their skills and hopefully make money from the aristocratic audiences in whose palaces, castles and stately homes they would perform. It was during that period that Mozart composed his first violin sonatas. He would play violin (his small sized child's violin can still be seen in Salzburg) and Nannerl would accompany on the keyboard. However, these early sonatas followed the style at the time - which was for the main musical interest to be almost always in the keyboard part, while the violin merely provided a fairly innocuous accompaniment. Nowadays the early Mozart violin sonatas are considered juvenilia and are rarely to be heard in the concert hall.

However, as Mozart grew up and his appeal as a cute little prodigy performing amazing feats in concert somewhat dimmed, he had to consider how to maximise his income. As has been so vividly portrayed in the often inaccurate movie epic "Amadeus" Mozart was - to say the least - "difficult" as an employee. He was prone to practical jokes, vulgar language and behaviour and from his letters one can tell that he really resented performing his music to an audience which frequently was more interested in chatting amongst themselves and which treated him as nothing more than a servant. Often he'd be given a piece of jewellery or a pocket watch instead of the much needed cash, and his disgust (and ungratefulness!) can still be felt reading his letters today! He had little respect for authority and the episode where he was literally kicked out of the Archbishop of Salzburg's employment really did happen!

By 1778, Mozart's composition style had developed to the point where his violin sonatas are much more of an equal partnership between violin and keyboard. During this year while he was in Mannheim and Paris, he composed a set of 6 sonatas which are featured on this DVD. They were dedicated to the German aristrocrat Maria Elisabeth, Electress of the Palatinate, but most importantly for Mozart, they were also published in Paris - his first major music publication.

This was a vital step for Mozart. Not only was it a good source of income to have the works published, but it also served to spread his music around a much wider audience than would otherwise have been possible. So these works, while perhaps not the most widely known amongst the general public, are a vital stepping stone in Mozart's development and it is great to see this DVD bringing this gorgeous music to vivid life.

The 6 sonatas featured on this DVD are in the following order:

Sonata in G major - K.301
Sonata in E flat major - K.302
Sonata in C major - K.303
Sonata in E minor - K.304
Sonata in A major - K.305
Sonata in D major - K.306

All the sonatas have 2 movements, apart from K.306 which has 3.

The musicians:

Gil Shaham is the violinist, and Orli Shaham - his younger sister - plays piano. They are both Israeli-Americans in their 30s and have major solo international careers as well as a thriving partnership working together, although Orli Shaham is perhaps better known in Northern America than in Europe. Gil Shaham is regarded as one of the world's major violinists and he plays an absolutely amazing Stradivari known as the "Comtesse de Polignac" of 1699. There is a little biographical information about both artists in the DVD booklet, but not much - something which I'll be coming back to later... But here is some more info: http://www.harrisonparrott.com/artists/Gil_Shaham.asp
http://www.orlishaha m.com/

DVD:

This DVD was filmed as part of the celebration year in Austria during 2006 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth. One of the most unique things about it is that rather than choose a concert hall for the performance, the artists are seen playing in a room in one of Vienna's many beautiful palaces - the Palais Daun-Kinsky - which adds a tremendous amount of grandeur and atmosphere to the whole viewer experience and sets the music perfectly into the context of when it was composed. Here's some pictures of the palace - http://www.wien.gv.at/english/administration/civilstatus/wedding/kinsky.htm l In the short breaks between sonatas on the DVD, the camera pans around the glorious architectural and decorative features of the palace room.

The producer of the DVD is Paul Smaczny who is one of Austria's most experienced classical music producers and it certainly shows. The lighting is excellent and natural, and camera shots are non-fussy, concentrating on the most important musical aspects of the performance with none of the constant changes of view that plagues much BBC TV coverage. Sound quality (Dolby Digital Surround) and balance between violin and piano is excellent and microphones are totally non-intrusive in the film.

One thing I really enjoyed was the way in which the producer picked up on the wonderfully infectious communication between the two siblings while they play. There is a lot of eye-contact and the occasional smile and seeing this only adds to one's appreciation of this excellent musical duo. Whilst Gil Shaham does read the music from a music stand, one rarely sees it in shot - something which can really spoil the image of a filmed concert as it makes a barrier between artist and viewer.

It says in the Ciao description of this DVD that it is a live performance but that's not so - it was recorded over 3 days. In an interestingly dramatic twist, the producer records the single sonata in a minor key - written at the time immediately after the death of Mozart's mother - during the hours of darkness, bringing a sombre, more intense atmosphere to this more tragic, dramatic, inward looking and mourning music.

Performances:

This is first class playing. Gil Shaham is by no means one of the "HIPP" brigade (historically informed performance practice...) he relishes the big tone of his Strad and isn'f afraid to dig in, use plenty of vibrato and even the occasional romantic portamenti (sliding from one note to another) for full effect. Yet, paradoxically - it is pure Mozart. The phrasing is spot on and he really understands the lyrical and rhythmic contrasts which make up Mozart;s style. His articulation means there is never any loss of clarity, even in the fastest passages and he's happy to merely accompany when his sister has the more important musical voice. It helps a lot that Orli Shaham is playing a Boesendorfer grand piano, which has a much mellower and more subtle sound than a percussive ahd metallic Steinway, making a perfect combination with her brother's Strad. She shares the same care in Mozartian phrasing and articulation. Fine musicians the pair of them.

Violin geeks will be pleased to know that one can examine Mr Shaham's left and right hand technique in detail and there's lots of opportunities to really learn from this DVD.

Music:

Mozart - think melodies, think heart-rendingly simple expression of emotions, yet at the same time a love of fun and dance. This is totally approachable music which is joyful, longing, playful and incredibly relaxing to listen to. Having the single minor sonata in the middle of the performance provides a heart-rending intensity and this - K.304 - is probably the finest interpretation on the DVD. There are lots of almost aria like operatic melodies in the slow movements of these sonatas, whilst the joie de vivre of the faster sections is sure to have you tapping your feet and perhaps dancing around the living room doing your housework! It is music to enjoy in this wonderful DVD.

DVD summary:

This 99 minute long DVD is certainly worth the money for the music alone and the cleverly atmospheric historical setting. But, but, but... I've given it 5 stars because 4 stars seemed a bit mean, but it should be 4.5 stars because of several small things which could have been dealt with so easily but disappointingly weren't:

1. The title of the DVD is "Mozart Violin Sonatas" which might imply that ALL Mozart's violin sonatas are on it. They aren't, there are other later works, this DVD only contains the sonatas from 1778. A little misleading at first glance.

2. The DVD booklet has very little real detail about Gil and Orli Shaham, you'll find more by browsing on Google. There is good description of the historical background and about the music itself, but it is after all the artists who "make" the performance. It would have been brilliant to have an extra on the DVD (there are none) - of Gil and Orfli chatting about the Mozart sonatas and what they mean to them. I've been fortunate to meet Gil and he's a very personable approachable chap. How are we to make classical music truely accessible if we don't make the most of the technological possibilities given by DVD?

3. Finally, I think it would have been good to have a little information on the Palais Daun Kinsky, either in the booklet or preferably as another extra on the DVD, it is such a beautiful place and I think many people buying something like this would really appreciate seeing more of the building.

Conclusion:
Despite my slight criticisms, I do heartily recommend this DVD, it is the kind of disc you can either watch properly or else just put on in the background while you do the housework or write your Ciao reviews, such life-enhancing music. 

...less