Hans Pfitzner - Complete Piano Works; Violin Sonata

Hans Pfitzner  (1869-1949)

Complete Piano Works, Violin Sonata

Ulf Wallin and Roland Pontinen

Pfitzner is a peculiar composer: he lived at a time of the high-watermark of German music. He had a running-battle with Berg and the New Viennese School after WW1. He had a fairly successful career--even through WW2. He wrote a good bit of music of a high quality in both large and small forms. But where is his voice? Where is the love? I dunno: I find him difficult to fathom: an enigma. His music seems soul-less--even when compared with Strauss or Reger.

In any case, this disc could be a good starting point for exploration of Pfitzner's art.

The splendid Wallin/Pöntinen Duo have produced other fine recordings of Goldmark Goldmark: Complete Works For Violin & Piano, Vol.1 Karl Goldmark: Complete Works for Violin & Piano, Vol. 2 , Hindemith Paul Hindemith: The Complete Violin Sonatas , Brahms Brahms: Complete Works for Violin & Piano , Saint-Saëns Saint-Saëns: Sonata for Violin & Piano; Triptyque; Elégie , and Schoenberg Schoenberg: Complete Works for Violin & Piano , among others.

Swede Roland Pöntinen is an extremely talented and sensitive pianist who is amassing an excellent collection of solo recordings: Satie E. Satie - R. Pöntinen , Chopin Roland Pöntinen Plays Chopin , Busoni Ferruccio Busoni: Seven Elegies; Piano Works , Berg and Schoenberg Pöntinen Plays Schoenberg & Berg , among others.