Widmann, Carolin: Reflections I

Album review

Violinist Carolin Widmann's album Reflections I centers around composers' contemplation of works past as they influence their own works. Her engaging program begins with Pierre Boulez's Anthémes I for solo violin. Like many Boulez works, this one reflects one facet of his hypothetical single "master work" about which all his compositions revolve. The reflection in Eugène Ysaÿe's Second and Fourth sonatas for solo violin is less abstract. Written in honor of Jacques Thibaud and Fritz Kreisler, respectively, both pay homage to the solo sonatas and partitas of J.S. Bach, even going so far as several direct quotations in the Second Sonata. Following in the footsteps of Paganini's great 24 Caprices, Salvatore Sciarrino's 6 Cappricci again tests the mettle of the violinist with extensive modern techniques and technical demands. The program ends with a set of three etudes by Widmann's brother, Jörg Widmann, which again push the instrument's and performer's limits to the limit, even calling upon the violinist to simultaneously sing in quarter tones while playing. Widmann delivers marvelously on all of these technical demands with wonderful assuredness and confidence, immediately gripping the attention and respect of her listeners. Far from being a mere technical demonstration, Widmann also shows herself to possess a beautiful, velvety sound (brilliantly showcased in the Ysaÿe sonatas). Telos Music's recorded sound is clear and brilliant, while the unusual disc packaging seems quite clumsy.
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