Weinberg: Cello Sonatas Nos.1 & 2, Solo Double Bass Sonata, Winnie the Pooh Rhapsody
Marina Tarasova (cello), Ivan Sokolov (piano) (Northern Flowers)
又聽魏恩貝格，這碟有齊兩首大提琴奏鳴曲，以及把無伴奏低音大提琴奏鳴曲用大提琴演奏。軌一至二的《第一大提琴奏鳴曲》的蕭斯塔高維契的味道頗重，但我頗喜歡它特別的結構，第一樂章是慢板，第二樂章是像諧謔曲的中板，再入華彩段，然後寧靜的回顧第一樂章作結。此外這曲的憂愁不會變成沉溺或虛無，也是我喜歡的地方。
《第二大提琴奏鳴曲》（軌三至五）表面上比較輕鬆，但魏恩貝格很巧妙地將每個樂章從輕鬆，逐漸轉為沉重（第一及二樂章），第三樂章則是從輕快變為神經質。
《無伴奏低音大提琴奏鳴曲》（軌六至十一）的長度和上兩首相若，但共有六個樂章，短小精悍，不說廢話，如果和魏恩貝格的四首無伴奏大提琴奏鳴曲，我覺得此曲寫得精僻得多。
最後的《小熊維尼狂想曲》是這碟的鋼琴家Ivan Sokolov把魏恩貝格為三部蘇聯小熊維尼卡通短片寫的配樂，輯錄成一個七分鐘樂章，可當成聽完三首嚴肅作品後的甜品。至於那些卡通，雖有小熊維尼之名，但畫功和原裝的一點都不像。
It’s time for more Weinberg, this all-cello disc with Marina Tarasova paired the two cello sonatas with the solo double bass sonata played on the cello. The First Cello Sonata (tracks 1-2) has very noticeable Shostakovich flavours but what I loved was its special two-movement structure. The first is a mournful slow movement, the second kicks off with a scherzo-like moderato which evolves into a cello cadenza. After the catharsis a quiet recap of the first movement rounds up the piece. The piece’s mournfulness refuses to sink into indulgence and I appreciated that a lot.
The Second Cello Sonata (tracks 3-5) is deceptively light-hearted because all three movements eventually get heavier, while the third movement ends in a frenzy.
The six-movement Solo Double Bass Sonata (tracks 6-11) isn’t any longer than each of the cello sonata, so things are more concise and direct. Compared with Weinberg’s four solo cello sonatas I’d say this one is better written.
Weinberg provided music for three animation shorts on Winnie the Pooh in a Soviet guise. Ivan Sokolov, pianist on this recording, arranged the themes as a 7-minute work for cello and piano. This plate of desserts is surely welcomed after three substantial sonatas.