Petteri Brahms

Ysaye

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Petteri Iivonen & Kevin Fitz-GeraldArt of the Sonata

Volume II

1-4 BrahmsViolinSonataNo.3inDMinorOp108 20:11 Allegro 7:45 Adagio 4:22 Un poco presto e con sentimento 2:39 Presto agitato 5:24withKevinFitz-Gerald,piano

5-7Ysaye SonataNo.4inEMinor 11:57 Allemanda 5:42 Sarabande 3:00 Finale 3:15

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GaryKohfromGenesisAdvancedTechnologiesandIfirstmetwhenElliotMidwoodatAcousticImageaskedGenesisandYarlungtocollaborateforademonstrationforRobertLeviandtheLosAngelesandOrangeCountyAudioSociety.MaestroLevihasbuiltthelargestaudiophileclubintheworld,andhostsmonthlyeventsathighendlisteningroomsaroundSouthernCalifornia.WorkingwithGarywasatreat.HebroughtequipmentandYarlungsuppliedmusic.Peopleheardfreshrecordingsforthefirsttimeonequipmentmanyofusdreamof.

SoitmakesYarlungproudthatGarychosetosponsorourfifthquartetofDSDreleasesfromtheYarlungSonoruSseriesofanalogtapes.Dr.DavidW.Robinson“twistedYarlung’sarm”toreleasemusicin64fs,128fsand256fs(single,doubleandquad)DSD,andourquartetshavebeenenjoyedbymusicloversaroundtheworld.exaSoundsponsoredourfirstquartet,MergingTechnologiesunderwrotethesecondset(andweusedMergingTechnologies’HapiconverterandPyramixsoftwaretomakethesefiles).InternationalRectifier(nowownedbyInfineoninMunich)supportedourthirdquartet,andElliotMidwoodexecutiveproducedthefourthquartetincollaborationwithPSAudio.SoitisonlyfittingthatGaryandIsharedtheGenesisQuartetwiththepublicforthefirsttimeatElliot’sAcousticImagelisteningroom.

Garyisafriendandweenjoyworkingtogether.Butprojectswithhimsucceedbecauseofthequalityofhisengineering.GarywasoneofagroupofpioneerswhobuilttheInternetinmuchofSoutheastAsiaandinvestedinInternetcompaniesintheveryearlydays.He“retired”young,andcouldhavespenttherestofhislifeinluxuryandleisure.Instead,heplantedavineyardandstartedtobuildtheroomtohousehisdreamspeakers–theflagshipreferencefromGenesis–theG1.Whenhecalledtoorderapair,hewasinformedthatthecompanyhadcloseddownandcouldn’tdeliver.Garydidn’tacceptthisanswer;themereclosingofacompanyshouldn’tkeephimfromthesoundhewanted.Heboughtassetsfromthebankthathadforeclosedonthecompany,andresurrectedthebrand.NotonlyhasGaryrunGenesisAdvancedTechnologiessuccessfully,buthasdesignednewandsuccessfulproducts.Someyearsago,IboughtapairofGary’sGenesisM60tube

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monoblocksandfellinlovewithhissolidstateamplificationaswell.Garyhascontinuedtorefinethedesignsofhisspeakers,boththemind-bendinglyexpensiveandear-enchantingtopofthelineG1,butsmallerspeakersaswell,includinghisG7-seriesspeakerswhichwedemonstratedfortheAudiosocietyandtheG7series2whichGaryshippedtoLosAngelestoinauguratethisGenesisQuartet.Garyalsoshowedoffhiscompany’snewamplifierandmusicserveraswellasarecently-designedphonostage.(WeofferedasneakpreviewofYarlung’stwolatestvinylreleases:Ciaramella DancesandSophisticated Ladyjazzquartet,masteredbySteveHoffmanandwithlacquerscutbyBernieGrundman).

Onemightask,“HowdoesGarydoit?Howhasheresurrectedthecompanyandhowhashecontinuedtoimprovewhatwasalreadygood?”Garyisameticulousdesignerwithaclearvisionforwhathewantstobuild.Hedoesnotshyawayfromtried-and-trueengineeringwhenitworksbutalsoexaminesdeeplytherootsofthescience.Heisfondofsaying“creativityanddiscoverycomesfromseeingwhateverybodyhasseen,andthinkingwhatnobodyhasthought.”MyM60monoblocksareagoodexampleofthis.Garytoldmerecentlythatthereisnouniquetechnologyinthesemonoblocks.Yettheyareonly60wattseachandcandrivealmostanyspeaker.Garyexplainedthatwithintheclassictubepowerampdesigntherewerecountlesswayshecouldimprovetheinterrelationofeachcomponent,honingthewholesystemintoamusicalandmuscularflexibilitythatwasmakingmyearshappy.Bycontrast,Gary’ssolidstateamplifiersidleusingonly6wattsofelectricityandutilizemanyofGary’sfrom-the-ground-upnewlydesignedcircuitsinbothpowersupplyandamplification.

DespitethesophisticationandsubtletyofGary’sdesigns,hekeepsthemassimpleaspossible,followinghisphilosophythat“Forarecordingengineer,anidealamplifiermustnotembellishorcolorarecording.Ifthesourceandspeakerareclosetoperfect,theamplifierhastobeastransparentaspossible.Genesishigh-performanceaudioproductsaredesignedtodeliverthemusictothelistenerwithoutinterference.”

Garyinitiallydevelopedhisamplifierstohelphimfurtherrefinehiscompany’sloudspeakers.Hewantedanunadulteratedlabreferenceamplifiersohecouldbestjudgeevolutionsinhisspeakerdesigns.Successeslikethishaveawayofbecomingknown,andnowGary’sGenesisReferenceAmplifier(theGRA)ishighlysought.Itwon“UltimateReference”fromMagazine Audio,“SelectComponent”atUltraAudio.comandgarneredtheBlueMoonAward.

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FredericBeudotwith6moonsgavetheamplifieritsfirstreview.HerespondeddirectlytoGary’sgoalsforthedesign:“IamstillatalosstoaccuratelydescribewhattheGR360soundslike.IamactuallynotevensureithasasoundaseverytimeIchangedacomponentinmysystem,IwasexposedtothesonicsignatureofthecomponentIjustintroducedmoreintensivelythanIhadexperiencedbefore.Ifanything,theGR360revealsthetruenatureofothercomponents….”Garysucceededinbuildinganidealamplifierforhisnewspeakersandfortherestofuswhoprizetransparency.

ErnieFishercontinuesinsimilarveininInner Ear:“TheGRA...handledtheentiremusicalsignalwithatouchofrefinement,almostasthoughitwasn’tthere.Thatisarareexperienceforthislistener,whoisforeverlookingforsonicsignatures.Thisamphasone,tobesure,butitiswritteninalmostinvisibleink.”

BravoGary.BravoGenesis.AndthankyouforsharingyoursuccesswithYarlung.

--BobAttiyeh,producer

Genesis Dragon in the Hong Kong listening room of Forthwise Ltd.

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ThankstothegenerosityofAnnMooreMulally,YarlungRecordsbringsyouthelonganticipatedsecondrecordingfeaturingFinnishviolinistPetteriIivonen,CanadianpianistKevinFitz-Geraldandtheirspecialmusicalchemistry.Weliveduringamusicalflowering,especiallyinSouthernCalifornia.Futuregenerationswilllookbackonthesedecadesasoneofthemusicalgoldenerasforliveconcertperformancesandnewmusiccomposition.Despitethis,classicalrecordingsdonotsellenthusiasticallyanymore.Butalongwithconcerts,recordingsremainoneof theprincipalwaysoursocietysharesmusicalgreatness.Eventhoughclassicalmusicrecordingsarenotascommercialastheyoncewere,theyprovidecriticalsupporttomusiciansandtheircareers,theyremainthemediumthroughwhichmostofusfirsthearandappreciateclassicrepertoire,andtheyprovideendlesslisteningpleasureathome.Sowearedoublygratefultoourfriendsandsponsors,especiallyAnn,formakingthisrecordingpossible.JohannesBrahmsdedicatedhisViolinSonataNo.3to HansvonBülow; itpremieredwithviolinistJenöHubayinBudapestduringthewinterof1888withBrahmshimselfatthepiano.Thisisthedarkestandmostsevereofhisthreesonatas,andwassoontakenupbyJosefJoachim,whoprogrammeditandplayeditrepeatedly.AlongwithVier ernste Gesänge,thissonataremainsmyfavoriteofBrahms’compositions,possiblybecauseitcareenssocalculatedlybetweenheart-racingnervoustensionandgloriousmelody.AswassooftenthecasewithBrahms,thecomposerhadlittleconfidenceinthisworkwhenitwascomplete.HedelayedsendingittohisfriendClaraSchumannbecausehefeareditwasnotgoodenoughforhertolikeitandBrahmsdidn’twanthertoshareitwithJoachimunlessshefeltitwouldpassmuster.WhenBrahmsfinallydidshareitwithClaraSchumann,sherespondedwithappropriateenthusiasmforthisgreatworkofart.SomescholarsnotethatBrahms’pianopartsinhissonatasandvocalmusicreachevenhigherlevelsofsophisticationthantheviolinist’sorsinger’slines.Thereiscertainlyahealthygiveandtakebetweenviolinandpianointhissonata,butthepianopartatleastequalsifnotsurpassestheviolinpartinsubtlety.Regardless,PetteriandKevincapturethelistenerinanunrelentingmusicalgripuntilthesonata’ssatisfyingconclusion.BelgiancomposerEugèneYsaÿelivedfrom1858to1931,andachievedgreatfameasaconductor,composerandconcertviolinist.Asaviolinist,hewasperhapsbestknownforhisinterpretationsofBachandBeethoven.Ysaÿe’sfascination,orindeedobsessionwithBachinspiredhiswritingofthesonatas.LegendhasitthatYsaÿecomposedallsixofhisOp.27violinsonatas,oratleastcompletedsketchesofthem,withina24hourperiodin1924.ThecomposercreditedhisinspirationtoaconcertinwhichJosephSzigetiplayedBach’sGMinorSonata(thesamesonataPetteriplayedformeatouraudition).Thecomposerdedicatedhis4thsonata,Ysaÿe’spersonalfavorite,toFritzKreisler.PetteriIivonenwasbornin1987,andbegantostudytheviolinattheHelsinkiConservatorywhenhewasfouryearsold.Petterialsostudiedthepianoasastudentandremainsanaccomplishedpianist.PetteriwontheErkkiMelartinchambermusiccompetitionwhenhewasfifteen:Petteri’snuancedtalentasamusicalcollaborator(asapartnerwholistens)remainseasytoheareveninhisviolinsoloandconcertorepertoire.Since1997,Petteri’sprincipalteachershavebeenTuomasHaapanenandHagaiShaham.Pettericontinuesto

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studydespitehis increasinglybusyconcert scheduleof solorecitalsandconcertos in theUnitedStates,Germany,Belgium,Finland,theNetherlands,Israel,Portugal,SpainandItaly.IivonenhasperformedwithPaulNeubauerandDavidGrossmanoftheNewYorkPhilharmonic,andraisedmoneyfortheLosAngelesPhilharmonicinaspecialChoralroombenefitatWaltDisneyConcertHall.PetteriwasinvitedtoperformwithpianistRyanMacEvoyMcCulloughtoopenTheBroadStageinSantaMonicain2008.LastyearIivonenperformedtheTchaikovskyviolinconcertounderthebatonofZubinMehta,andbasedonthisperformancewasimmediatelyinvitedtoplaythegalaopeningnightconcertwiththeIsraelPhilharmonicwithwhomPetteriperformedtheBruchViolinConcertoNo.1.AsIwritethesenotes,PetteriispreparingforaSouthAmericantourwithZubinMehtaandisscheduledformoreconcertoperformanceswithmajororchestrasinEurope,especiallytheTchaikovsky,BlochandSibeliusconcertosforwhichPetterihasbecomefamous.ImmediatelyafterplayinginSouthAmerica,PetterifliestoLosAngelestojoinKevinFitz-GeraldforaprivateconcertanddinnerinthehomeofAnnMooreMulallytocelebratethereleaseofthisalbum.WhilemuchofPetteri’splayingisexceptionallybeautiful,henevertriestomakethesound“pretty.”Ihaveheardveryfewviolinist’swithPetteri’sabilitytocontrolcolorandtimbre,andevenfewerwhousethisabilityforsuchmusicalandappropriateends.ForourrecordingPetteriplaysaFerdinandusGaglianoviolin,builtin1767,kindlyloanedtohimbyOKOBankArtFoundation.KevinplaysNewYorkSteinwayserialnumber567908.Canadian pianist Kevin Fitz-Gerald performs in concert halls around the world as a soloist, has recorded with seven record labelsincludingYarlungRecords,andperformsregularlyinpartnershipwithothermusiciansincludingPatrickGallois,StephenIsserlis,RichardStolzman,Petteri Iivonen,AlanCivil,CamillaWicks,MidoriGoto,EudiceShapiro,MiltonThomas,KarenTuttle,DonaldMcInnes,RonaldLeonard,andtheBartok,St.PetersburgandSt.LawrenceStringQuartets.Kevinalsoperformsfour-handspianoworkswithhiswifeBernadeneBlaha.In addition to his position as Professor of Piano Performance and Collaborative Arts at the USC Thornton School of Music in LosAngeles,Mr.Fitz-GeraldisalsoaregularvisitingartistteacherattheBanffSchoolofFineArts,afrequentguestmasterclassteacheratTheColburnSchoolforthePerformingArtsinLosAngeles,andservesasvisitingfacultyatmanyothernationalandinternationalmusicfestivalsandinstitutionsthroughoutNorthAmerica,SouthAmerica,AsiaandAustralia.KevinwasborninKelowna,BritishColumbiaandreceivedfullscholarshipstostudyattheVictoriaConservatoryofMusic,TheBanffCentreSchoolofFineArtsandtheRoyalConservatoryofMusicinTorontowherehisprincipalteacherswereMarekJablonski,RobinWoodandAlmaBrock-Smith.GRAMMY®AwardwinningYarlungRecordsbringsfreshmusicianstotheclassicalmusicworldusingminimalistaudiophilerecordingtechniquestodeliversoundasclosetolivingperformanceaspossible.Ratherthanusingrecordingstudios,weproducethesealbumsinconcerthallsfamousfortheiracoustics,includingWaltDisneyConcertHall,AmbassadorHall,ZipperHallandAlfredNewmanHallinLosAngeles.Yarlungusesbothanalogtapeandhighresolutiondigitalmediafor24-bitdownloadsandCDsand180GramvinylLPs,

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allmasteredbySteveHoffman.ForourCDs,pressedinGermany,Yarlungusesspecialalloys,highresolutionvirginpolycarbonateandcarefulglassmasteringtechniquestobringyousoundthatcloselymatchestheoriginal.Yarlungrepertoirerangesfromthe11thcenturythroughtheBaroque,ClassicalandRomanticeras,withaspecialfocusonnewmusicfromthe20thand21stcenturies.Artistsincludetopsoloistsaswellassuperstaryoungmusiciansatthebeginningsoftheirinternationalconcertcareers.Yarlungbringsartistsintoyourlivingroom;youcanheartheirmusic,theirbreathing,andalmosttheirheartbeats.YarlungArtistsisa501(c)(3)publiccharitywhichraisesmoneytobringnewrecordedmusictothepublicthroughoursupportofyoungmusiciansatthebeginningsoftheirinternationalconcertcareers.Wewishtoexpresshowgratefulweareforthesupportwereceivefromkeyplayersinthemusicindustryandfromgenerousfriendsandpatrons.Forthisparticularalbum,wewantespeciallytothankmyfriendAnnMooreMulallyforhergenerosity,aswellasSteveHoffman,ElliotMidwood,JonFisher,KevinFitz-GeraldandRobertCutietta.

PetteriIivonen

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Contributions to Yarlung Artists are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. If you would enjoy supporting our recordings, thecommissioningofnewmusicandthecareersofourmosttalentedyoungmusiciansastheylaunchtheirinternationalconcertcareers,pleasevisitwww.yarlungartists.org,orwritetousatYarlungArtists,10920WilshireBoulevard150-9162,LosAngeles,California90024.Thankstosupport fromDeanRobertCutietta,werecordedPetteriandKevininAlfredNewmanHallat theUniversityofSouthernCalifornia.NewmanHallexemplifiesthewarmyettransparentandlivelysoundofconcertshallsthatIfavorforrecordings,anditsacoustics adjust easily to provide different lengths of decay. We chose a legendary Austrian AKG C-24 stereo microphone with theoriginalbrasssurroundCK12tube,madeavailabletousbyourfriendandsponsorJonFisheratGearworksProAudio.Weusedfive-feetlongYarlung-Records-designedinterconnectswithaflatsilverribbonsuspendedinairforthedielectric,customizedvacuumtubepreamplifiersandnomixer.Thesignalpathwasasshortaswecouldmakeit,withasfewelectronicsbetweenperformerandfinalproductaspossible.Inclosing,IwouldliketothankMartinChalifour,agoodfriendandadvisortoYarlungArtists,forhishelpwiththisrecording.Martinworkedcloselywithmeandhelpeduschoosethebesttakesforeachmovementfromourfourdaysofrecordingsessions.Hehasplayedthisrepertoireinmanyconcerts,andMartin’shelpwasinvaluable.--BobAttiyeh,producerJuly15,2011

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PetteriIivonenandKevinFitz-Gerald

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PetteriIivonenandKevinFitz-Gerald

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TheGenesisQuartet

FourNewYarlungRecordsReleases:SummaryNotesbyRobertH.Levi,PFOMay14th,2015

NigelArmstrong,Nigel Armstrong: Bach, Bartók, Korngold. FeaturingSirNevilleMarinerandtheColburnOrchestra.NativeDSDCatalognumberYAR65007DSD

ThisYarlungRecordsrecordingissimplyentitledNigel Armstrong.Armstrongisayounganddynamicartist,exactlyfittingtherisingstarscapturedbytheYarlunglabel.WithavariedrepertoireofBartók,Bach,andKorngold,Iwasflooredbythediversityandsensitivityofthissuperbartist.TrulyabuddingHeifetzstylistically,andwiththesweetestviolinIhaveheardinyears,NigelArmstrongisanartisttofollowclosely.TheBartokissolidlyplayed.ThedifficultBachisgorgeouslyrendered.TheKorngoldConcerto,conductedbythegreatSirNevilleMarriner,isexceptionalandcaptivating.

Recordedonanalogtapewithtubemicrophones.BobAttiyeh,theexceptionalproducerandmaster

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recordistofYarlungRecords,showsremarkabletaste,asusual,andultimatesensitivityfortheperformersandthebalanceofhisrecordings.TheDSDdownloadiswortheverypennyandmorejustfortheKorngold.Highestrecommendation.

Smoke&Mirrors:Vanish, Vol. 2, Takemitsu, Rachmaninov. FeaturingtheSmokeandMirrorsPercussionEnsemble.NativeDSDCatalogNumber:YAR15195DSD2

SmokeandMirror’sVanish, Vol. 2 isatour de forceinelegant,wide-rangingmelodicpercussionperformance.IcannotsayIhaveeverexperienceddiversityandelegancelikethisinmusicalform,butsowhat?Iloveit!Trulyaddictive,itismusicallyentertainingandoriginal.Thesixartistssoundlikesixteen.Whatanadventureinstyleandvirtuosity.Asonicmasterpiece!Recordedtoperfection,andgreatfun!Recommended,forsure.

Petteri:Art of the Sonata, Vol. II Brahms & Ysaye.PetteriIivonen,Violin;KevinFitz-Gerald,Piano.NativeDSDCatalogNumber:YAR76721DSD2

Beautifullyplayedandrecorded,youmightthingthesemusicianshavebeenplayingtogetherforyears.Whenthiswasrecordedin2011,Petteriwasstillinhisearlytwenties!Yarlungstrikesagain.ThedeliciousrepertoirebetweenIivonenandFitz-Geraldonthisalbumisasgoodasitgets.

TheBrahmsViolin Sonata Number 3isplayedwithsuchuncannyfeelingandperfection.ThedifficultYsayeSonata No. 4 in E Minorispolishedoffwithsucheaseandskillastomakeitatruegem.Therecordingistrulyfirst-class:veryanaloginitssmoothnessandlackofgrain.HowcanYarlungRecordsdothisandSonynot?Highestrecommendation.

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FredericRosselet:Bach, LigetiCellosoloalbum.NativeDSDCatalogNumber:YAR07498DSD

Recordedtoperfection,thisyoungcelloplayerRosseletisatruevirtuoso.

Hisskillandsensitivitytothepiecesisastoundingforsuchayoungplayer.Withtoe-tappingrhythmsandinflections,thisisonemagicalcellorecording.TheBachisexcitingandrich.TheLigetiismysteriousandcompelling.Thecombomakesforanentertainingpackage.

Onceagain,YarlunghasproducedatrulyreferencequalityrecordingwhichisawinnerinDSD.YoYoMashouldbelookingoverhisshoulder:Rosseletwillbethere!Highestrecommendation.

www.yarlungrecords.comPleasecall(310)692-4575oremailsupport@yarlungartists.orgwithanyquestionsaboutYarlungArtistsandprogramssupportingyoungconcertmusicians.

-RobertH.Levi

Robert H. Levi, by Al Hirschfeld

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MichaelFremer

In a surprisingly short period of time, the adventurous GRAMMY® Award winning classical music labelYarlunghasproducedaneclecticcatalogof impeccablyrecordedperformancesbyarosterofadventurousmusicians, including many that are well-known and others soon to be. The varied repertoire, with arefreshinglyinternationalflavor,coverseverythingfrommodernpercussiontosolopianoandviolintolargescalesymphonicworkswithsingers.

Theminimallymiked“purist”recordingsproducedandengineeredbylabelfounderBobAttiyehinsomeoftheworld’sgreatconcertspaces,arecapturedsimultaneouslyonanalogtapeandhighresolutiondigitalandreleasedonvinyl,reel-to-reeltape,CDandashighresolutionStudioMasterdownloads.Yarlung’s production and sonic model is distilled from the recording industry’s glorious past—one thatpessimists were certain could never be successfully resurrected—while its forward-thinking business anddistributionmodelpointsthewaytowardsahealthyfuturefora“recordbusiness”longgivenupfordeadbytrendy“futurists.”

Forolderloversofrecordedclassicalrepertoire,Yarlung’scatalogrepresentsareturntosonicandmusicalgreatness.Foryoungeronesfamiliaronlywithdynamicallyandspatiallycompressedlowresolutionrecordings,thesefromYarlungarelike3DIMAXbutwithouttheglasses.

-MichaelFremerEditoranalogplanet.comSeniorcontributingeditor, Stereophile 

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Stereo SoundbyMoriShima

Onceuponatimetherewasalandofhi-fi. Anditwasgonealltoosoon. ButthankHeavensforYarlungRecords. Intheageofcompresseddigitaldownloads,itisrefreshingtohearrealsoundandrealmusicagain,reminiscentofRCALivingStereoinitsgoldenage,orMercuryRecordsatitsheight. Yarlung’ssoundisliquidandtransparent,justasifyouweresittingintheconcerthallswithsuperbacoustics,wheretheserecordingsaremade. WaltDisneyConcertHallinLosAngeles,AmbassadorHallinPasadena,andZipperHallatTheColburnSchool,tonameafew.

WhatMercurydidforHowardHansonandtheEastman-RochesterOrchestrainthefifties,YarlungRecordsisnowdoing forTheColburnOrchestraandMetropolitanOperamezzo-sopranoSashaCooke.  Youcanhear theevidenceon thealbum If You Love For Beauty, released in2012.  Whowouldhave thought thataconservatoryorchestra (granted theplayersareyoungsuperstars, soloistsall), couldcapture theworld’sattentionlikethis.  IunderstandthatYarlungdoesthisbyusingsimilartechniquestothoseinthegoldenageofrecordings. Onlyonestereomicrophoneforsmallerensembles,anduptofourmicrophonesforfullorchestras,recordingdirectlytotwotrackanalogtapeandhighresolutiondigital.

Don’t worry, Yarlung’s recordings are all on iTunes, Amazon MP3 and so forth, but you can also order180GramvirginvinylLPs,exquisitelymadeCDsmasteredbymightySteveHoffman,andhighresolutiondownloads,allavailableworldwidethroughNaxosGlobalLogisticsinMunich. MostexcitingforanalogtapeenthusiastsmightbetheSonoruSSeriesofrecordingson¼inchmastertape. IrecentlyreviewedYarlung’sMartin Chalifour and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Walt Disney Concert Hall,anotheralbumIrecommendhighly.1Yarlungoffersusatruefeastfortheears,andthisreviewerforone,wantsmore.

-MoriShimaStereo Sound,Japan

1 Stereo Sound, June 2013

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ReviewingtheoriginalCDrelease,PhilMuseinAtlantawrites:

“ArtoftheSonata”complementsnicelytheearlierYarlungrelease“ArtoftheViolin,”whichalsofeaturedtheirresistibletalentandsolidmusicianshipofPetteriIivoneninsoloviolinrepertoireandinclosepartnershipwithKevinFitz-Geraldinkeyworksforviolinandpiano.Onceagain,themagicoccurs.

WehaveBrahmsSonataNo.3indminor,Op.108tobringmatterstoasmashingconclusionwiththeheart-poundingtensionofitsconcludingPresto agitato.Forsheerexcitement,thisisoneofthegreatmomentsintherepertoire.Alongtheway,IivonenandFitz-Geraldthrillandcharmuswiththeabundantlyricismoftheearliermovements,particularlythecantabilewritingfortheviolinintheopeningallegroanditsequallysonglikecavatinamelodyintheAdagio.Typicallyforthisartist,Iivonen’splayingcanbegentlewithoutlapsingintosentimentality,histoneasappropriatelysweetasthesituationrequires,butnevercloying.Thatmakesthesensationaloutburstinthethirdmovement,withitsvirtuosicarpeggiosandforcefulchords,allthemoreconvincing.Butlistentotheeffectivewaythepianostatesthemajorthemesottovoceinthissamemovement,andyouwillrealizetheneedfortheclosecollaborationofIivonenandFitz-Geraldhere,too,forjustasintheFranck,thisworkisforviolinandpiano,andtheydon’tletusforgetit!

Yarlung Records10920 Wilshire Boulevard 150-9162 Los Angeles, California 90024www.yarlungrecords.com

© 2011, Yarlung Records. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

ThisrecordingmadepossiblewithgeneroussupportfromAnnMooreMulallyRecordedinAlfredNewmanHall,LosAngeles,June9-16,2008Producer&RecordingEngineer:BobAttiyehAssistantProducer:JacobHorowitzMasteringEngineers:SteveHoffman&BobAttiyehMonitoringequipment:ElliotMidwoodAKGtubemicrophone:GearworksProAudioAnalogtapetechnicians:LenHorowitz&BobHovlandSteinwaytechnician:YasuyoNakamura

Petteri Iivonen & Kevin Fitz-GeraldArt of the Sonata

VolumeII

1-4 Brahms ViolinSonataNo.3inDMinorOp1085-7Ysaye SonataNo.4inEMinor

YAR76721DSD2