Tartini: The Devil's Sonata / Andrew Manze | Giuseppe Tartini, Andrew Manze

Tartini: The Devil's Sonata / Andrew Manze | Giuseppe Tartini, Andrew Manze | Astounding recording, worthy of consideration!

classical music:

Tartini: The Devil...

	Tartini: The Devil's Sonata / Andrew Manze Giuseppe Tartini, Andrew Manze Harmonia Mundi Fr., 1998 average customer review:based on 15 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Violinist Andrew Manze did something truly breathtaking in 1998--he transformed the way we hear Giuseppe Tartini's The Devil's Sonata by playing it solo, without accompaniment. And we'll never hear it the same way again. It's a riveting performance, filled with as much improvisation as many jazz compositions, and yet it remains thoroughly faithful to Tartini's vision (Manze was inspired to play the work solo by the composer's own correspondence). Hands down, one of the best Baroque performances ever. --Jason Verlinde

I think this is actually the devil playing!

Manze's interpretation of the Devil's Trill Sonata is absolutely breathtaking. Other than the pure amazing virtuosity, the most brilliant part of Manze's rendition is that despite the extreme amount of liberty he takes with the piece, it still remains true to the style and feel of the original.

Tartini said that he heard the Sonata played by the Devil in a dream, but was unable to fully capture the way it sounded when he woke and composed it. When I hear Manze's version, I can't imagine the piece could have been any better in Tartini's original dream than it is on this CD.

If you are a purist this rendition might not interest you from a historical perspective. However, as a music lover, I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't like this amazing CD. Enjoy!

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Astounding recording, worthy of consideration!

I picked this disc up several years ago, and I frequently return to it whenever I crave a fine example of baroque violin. The naysayers will say what they will about Manze's departure from a literal interpretation of the music, while his advocates point out that this is very much in the style of baroque performers as historians now understand it.

In either case, Manze proves that this music is still as alive and relevant as it was in Tartini's day. The perfomance is technically above reproach. The only complaint I can think of, and I'm nitpicking here, is that there is just a bit too much reverb for my liking. I prefer a much more straightforward recording of solo violin work, such as in the Michael Rabin or Itzhak Perlman recordings of Paganini's 24 Caprices.

This disc was well worth the $20 I paid for it.

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One of the Greatest Baroque Players Today

Andrew Manze utterly captures the essence of Baroque playing in this recording. At the heart of Baroque tradition is embellishment and intricate decoration, beautifully exmplified in this work. The quality of Manze's playing is heard in his masterful control of tone and dynamic. As a violinist, I am awed by his ability and the passion that he exudes. In particular his dynamic range and control of vibrato makes this work fascinating to listen to. If you wish to hear a recording that best exemplifies the music of the Baroque period as it was intended to be played, this recording is for you.

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Great recording!

Great recording! Fabulous story about how Tartini was inspired to write the Devil's Sonata after a deep dream experience. Fascinating! The other pieces are equally good. The performance is deeply felt and, at times, even meditative. Highly recommend!

Unsatisfacation

Waiting a few days to buy it, in fact, I am a little disappointed. This is my first time to rank just 3 star for Manze ablum, comparied to my earily views Bach, Biber and Vivaldi. The key is that the loosing structure. Why did I say that? For Tartini's Devil sonata, it's very important of strong expression, I couldn't find it in this disc, but get more constrast voice between loud and soft.
Yes, Manze's violin is beautiful as before, but lack of tension. Comparied to others, I like Grumiaux's more.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

Tracks
The Devil's Sonata: La Sonata del Diavolo in G Minor - Largo | The Devil's Sonata: La Sonata del Diavolo in G Minor - Allegro | The Devil's Sonata: La Sonata del Diavolo in G Minor - Andante, Allegro, Adagio | The Devil's Sonata: L'arte del Arco - Theme & variation 1 | The Devil's Sonata: L'arte del Arco - Variations 2 & 4 | The Devil's Sonata: L'arte del Arco - Variations 9, 15, & 12 | The Devil's Sonata: L'arte del Arco - Variatios 10 & 20 | The Devil's Sonata: L'arte del Arco - Variation 29 | The Devil's Sonata: L'arte del Arco - Variation 30 | The Devil's Sonata: L'arte del Arco - Variation 33 | The Devil's Sonata: L'arte del Arco - Variation 34 | The Devil's Sonata: L'arte del Arco - Variation 23 | The Devil's Sonata: L'arte del Arco - Variation 38 | The Devil's Sonata: Sonata in A minor - Cantabile | The Devil's Sonata: Sonata in A minor - Allegro | The Devil's Sonata: Sonata in A minor - Andante | The Devil's Sonata: Sonata in A minor - Giga | The Devil's Sonata: Sonata in A minor - Aria (with variations) | The Devil's Sonata: Sonata in A minor - Variation 1 | The Devil's Sonata: Sonata in A minor - Variation 2 | The Devil's Sonata: Sonata in A minor - Variation 3 | The Devil's Sonata: Sonata in A minor - Variation 4 | The Devil's Sonata: Sonata in A minor - Variation 5 | The Devil's Sonata: Pastorale for violin in scordatura - Grave | The Devil's Sonata: Pastorale for violin in scordatura - Allegro | The Devil's Sonata: Pastorale for violin in scordatura - Largo, Presto, Andante

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