6/15

In Tune

What a brillant idea this release offers toward a greater understanding of Brahms, Cellist Peter Hörr and pianist Saiko Sasaki play idealized, stylish versions of Brahms' Sonata No. 2 in F Major, Op. 99, Gstav Uwe Jenner's Sonata in D Major, and Heinrich von Herzogenberg's Legends, op. 62. Jenner (1865-1920) and Baron Herzogenberg (1843-1903) are hardly household names, but each was a fine composer in the Brahmsian mold. Jenner was, in fact, Brahms' only true pupil, while Herzogenberg and his wife Elizabeth were Brahms' closest friends in Vienna. Indeed, some of the most revealing letters of Brahms are those to Elizabeth. Influences were mutual among the three composers. Both the Jenner and Herzogberg works amount to a kind of appendix to Brahms' two Cello Sonatas. Each is lovely, strongly made music. Hörr is the young cello professor of the Bern Conservatory, and a highly accomplished musician. His technical command of the instrument leaves nothing to be desired. An while he plays moving performances, his restraint is even more admirable. He graps the principal that it is not necessary to play at 220 volts one hundred percent of the time. Sasaki's in her pianism. (Her teachers include Leon Fleisher, Peter Serkin and the great Leonard Shure - Schnabel's assistant.) In superb sound, and sporting detailed jacket notes (german and english), the release is a jewel. And happily, it is listed as Vol. 1, so more should be forthcoming. Rare indeed is the chance to discover two worthy "new" composers, plus two artists of such high merit.