The four twentieth-century Violin Sonatas on this double-album constitute a remarkably fine, wide-ranging and unique programme. The works were composed during a thirty-year period from 1915 to 1946, and each of the four composers representated - although very different - are actually connected by a number of musical threads. Thus we begin with Max Reger’s magnificent final Violin Sonata, No 9, and follow with two Sonatas from the mid-1930s - by Paul Hindemith and Wilhelm Furtwangler. These are very different works in terms of scale - Hindemith’s lasting barely eleven minutes and Furtwangler’s almost an hour. To end we have the very fine Second Sonata by Hans Schaeuble of 1946 - a little-known work which does not deserve its unjust neglect. The performances by this most gifted young duo are excellent, as is the modern recording quality.
"...Violinist Bettina Boller and pianist Walter Prossnitz allow you to hear the music without having their personalities taking centre-stage. With playing that feels spontaneous the duo have the ability to engage the listener in these frequently highly emotional and often tension-ridden musical journeys. Splendid sound quality and an impressive essay add to the appeal of this issue. Those wishing to explore the lesser-known reaches of Germanic late-Romantic violin sonatas should not hesitate."
Michael Cookson - MusicWeb International - June 2009
"...Throughout this programme one feels well taken care of by Bettina Boller and Walter Prossnitz. Even in the sonatas by Reger and Furtwängler, they don’t lose sight of the wood for the trees. The first word that comes to mind is `intelligent’ . That is not to say that their playing lacks tonal or melodic allure, although Boller’s sound often comes across as wiry or edgy, and Prossnitz’s playing, while highly capable, is not particularly characterful here. This is nitpicking, though, and I’m glad to hear two such talented musicians playing this unusual repertory when they could have settled for Beethoven or Franck. The engineering is realistic and equally free from gimmickry."
Raymond S. Tuttle - International Record Review - July/August 2009
