Valeriy Sokolov and Nelson Goerner, Verbier Church 07/23/2011

PROGRAM

Valeriy Sokolov, violon
Nelson Goerner, piano


Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
Sonate pour violon et piano
-    Allegretto
-    Blues
-    Perpetuum mobile

Sergueï Prokofiev (1891 – 1953)
Sonate pour violon et piano N° 1 en fa mineur op.80
-    Andante
-    Allegro brusco
-    Andante
-    Allegrissimo

Cinq Mélodies op.35
-    N° 1 Andante
-    N° 2 Lento, ma non troppo
-    N° 3 Animato, ma non troppo
-    N° 4 Allegretto leggero e scherzando
-    N° 5 Andante non troppo

I decided at the last minute to go to a concert in the Church featuring Valeriy Sokolov on violin and Nelson Goerner on piano.   Initially  I didn't have a ticket and I wasn't going to go , but then I heard Tanya's Voice In My Head (henceforth TVIMH)  telling me: “You're already in Verbier.  You'd definitely go to this concert if you were at home.  What else are you doing this afternoon?  Go!”  I dared not anger TVIMH, so away I went.

This was my first concert in the Verbier Church.  Unlike the Gstaad Church, this is a relatively modern building.  The road leading up to the church is long and steep.  I guess that's consistent with there being hills and mountains everywhere I look.  Either my legs are going to be in excellent shape by the end of this trip or I'll need orthopedic surgery.  The Church is open seating, so the words to live by the rest of the week are definitely  “Get Me to the Church on Time.”

The afternoon concerts are half-recitals, designed to be approximately one hour in length.  Given that I'll keep this review relatively brief (plus, I have to save up some words for my review of last night's Evgeny Kissin Recital).  Sokolov didn't display overtly jaw-dropping virtuosity but he handled every considerable technical challenge effortlessly.  More importantly, everything was very musical and in place.  I found myself focusing more on the music and less on Sokolov which is a strong compliment for a young violinist.  He has a medium-sized sound with excellent intonation and he changed his sound notably between the Prokofeiv and the Ravel.

I really enjoyed the Prokofiev Violin Sonata No. 1.  I prefer it to his more popular  Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 94b which was originally written for the flute.  The first movement has a section in which the violinist play a series of ultra-pianissimo runs while the piano plays chorale-like chords.  This is echoed once again in the finale.  I don't know why this piece isn't programmed more frequently.

I suppose the Gods were punishing me for expressing my aversion  for Ravel less than 24 hours ago.  I guess I'm facing a once-a-day Ravel regimen until I repent.  Sokolov and Goerner conveyed the idiom of Ravel expertly, but this is still not music I'd seek out.  I've heard Nelson Goerner perform flawlessly in two very demanding yet very different jobs as accompanist in less than 24 hours in works that are most probably not in his central repertoire.  Most impressive.

Thank you, TVIMH!