Though not for the
Reger neophyte, the performances here of two violin and piano works by the Bavarian fin de siècle composer will be just the thing for the seasoned
Reger veteran. For one thing, it contains his massively constructed and intensely expressive four-movement Violin Sonata in E minor, Op. 122, a work that has received only two previous recordings in the digital era. For another, it contains his pseudo-Baroque and surprisingly ingratiating five-movement Suite in A minor, Op. 103a, a work that has received no previous recordings in the digital era. Most importantly, the performances here by the Swedish violin and piano team of
Ulf Wallin and
Roland Pöntinen are outstanding. Whether it's scored for orchestra, chorus, organ, or chamber ensemble, most performances of
Reger's music tend toward the thick and gnarly.
Reger's music itself tends in that direction, but as this disc shows,
Reger's music benefits from performances that don't take those qualities for granted. The aching lyricism of the Aria from the suite, the humor of the sonata's dryly witty Vivace, and the mystery of the suite's weirdly evocative Gavotte all emerge as revelatory qualities. As they've demonstrated in previous recordings of such heavy duty repertoire as
Hindemith's violin sonatas and
Schnittke's works for violin and piano, the Swedish duo has sense, sensitivity, strength, and a big collective soul, and in these performances,
Reger's violin sonata sounds like the rightful successor to
Brahms' sonatas, and his suite sounds like the rightful heir of
Bach's suites. Recorded in cool but vivid sound by CPO at Deutschlandradio in 2006, this disc will prove that
Reger's music is worthy to stand with that of other fin de siècle German and Austrian masters.