Alina Ibragimova
In November, 2010, and again in April, 2011, I wrote about violinist Alina Ibragimova, performing the sonatas of Beethoven. Now… we take a giant leap forward in time to hear her in the works of Maurice Ravel and LeKeu.
Maurice Ravel’s works for violin and piano have established an important place in the violin recital repertoire. These diverse works acknowledge the influences of a range of musical styles from jazz to impressionism, and they combine the tonal colors pioneered by Debussy, with the lyricism of Cesar Franck.
Composer Guillaume Lekeu was a student of Cesar Franck, and the Lekeu sonata was written for the legendary violinist Eugene Ysaye. This is a simple composition that stresses strong melody as opposed to impressive virtuosity. Just because it is simple doesn’t mean it is easy, it takes a true artist to do justice to a simple, melodic composition such as this. Ms. Ibragimova makes every note sing, and every phrase is meaningful and sincere.
The posthumously published one-movement Sonata, written by Ravel as a student, is a lyrical precursor to the composer’s stunning Violin Sonata in G major with its unique character and its adoption of the blues idiom. The spontaneity, tonal colors and exotic sounds in Ravel’s violin music call for immense skill in interpretation. The challenging passages in the frenzied “Tzigane” test the limits of the performer’s virtuosity. Violinist Alina Ibragimova rises to these challenges with extraordinary capabilities. She is accompanied by pianist Cédric Tiberghien, who gives elegant and flawless performances.
Track Listings are as follows:
• Guillaume Lekeu: Violin Sonata in G major
Tres modere
Tres lent
Tres anime
• Maurice Ravel: Violin Sonata No 1 in A major
• Ravel: Violin Sonata No 2 in G major
Allegretto
Blues:Moderato
Perpetuum mobile: Allegro
• Tzigane (Rapsodie de concert-Ravel)
• Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Faure (Ravel)
Here is Alina Ibragimova in Eugene Ysaÿe Sonata for solo violin, op. 27:
Click HERE:
And here she is again, performing Cezar Frank, Sonata for violin and piano in A major, 4th movement:
Tags: Alina Ibragimova, violin, Ravle, Lekeu, Sonata