Works for Viola Solo: Paul Hindemith and Günter Raphael Jürgen Weber

• Paul Hindemith (1895–1963) Sonata, Op. 25, No. 1 (1922)
• 1 I. Breit Viertel 02:23
• 2 II. Sehr frisch und straff (Viertel) 02:19
• 3 III. Sehr langsam 05:26
• 4 IV. Rasendes Zeitmass Tonschonheit ist Nebensache 01:51
• 5 V. Langsam, aber mit viel Ausdruck 04:37
• Günter Raphael (1903–1960) Sonata, Op. 46 No. 3 (1940)
• 6 I. In sanfter Bewegung 05:55
• 7 II. Menuett 06:38
• 8 III. Frisch und lebendig 04:08
• Günter Raphael Sonata, Op. 46 No. 4 (1946)
• 9 I. Sehr beseelt und bewegt 04:32
• 10 II. Ausserst lebhaft, rauschend 01:56
• 11 III. Schlicht und einfach 03:17
• 12 IV. Lebendig 03:12
• Paul Hindemith (1895–1963) Sonata, Op. 11, No. 5 (1919)
• 13 I. Lebhaft, aber nicht geeilt 03:48
• 14 II. Massig schnell, mit viel Warme vortragen 04:16
• 15 III. Scherzo Schnell 03:49
• 16 IV. In Form und Zeitmass einer Passacaglia Das Thema sehr gehalten 10:45
• Total Runtime 01:08:52

Info for Works for Viola Solo: Paul Hindemith and Günter Raphael

Whoever always suspected that viola jokes were a things of the past will find definite proof with the new GENUIN release with the violist Jürgen Weber. His playing consists of resilient tempi, a large tone and lightning virtuosic passages up to the famous "Wild. Tonschönheit ist Nebensache" (Wildly: beauty of tone is beside the point). Many violinists could become envious of this fabulous musician's recording of two solo sonatas each by Paul Hindemith and Günther Raphael. Above all, none of them will probably ever achieve such a sonorous sound... Demanding, sensuous music of the twentieth century, compellingly interpreted. Rating: highly worthy of recommendation!

Jürgen Weber, Viola

Jürgen Weber
received formal music training at the Cologne State Conservatory under Prof. Igor Ozim and in the master class of Prof. Ulrich Koch at the Freiburg State Conservatory. He also took part in master classes given by Max Rostal, Bruno Giuranna, Sandor Vegh and the Amadeus Quartet. While still a student, Jürgen Weber became a member of the Robert Schumann Quartet and began a busy international performance career. In 1973 the ensemble won the International ARD Competition. In 1975 he was honored by the Deutscher Musikrat by being named one of that year’s Bundesauswahl soloists. In 1975 Jürgen Weber was also awarded an endowment award by the state government of Hesse. In 1977 he was appointed the solo violist of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Since then he has collaborated with such internationally recognized conductors as Raphael Kubelik, Karl Böhm, Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Metha, Riccardo Muti, Seiji Ozawa, Simon Rattle, Lorin Maazel, and Mariss Jansons. He regularly gives master classes in Europe, Asia and the US. Jürgen Weber is Professor of Violin and Chamber Music at Munich’s Hochschule für Musik und Theater.

In addition to symphonic music, Weber’s is especially devoted to chamber music and performs in recital internationally with various ensembles, including the Deutsches Streichtrio. A large number of solo and chamber music CDs document his artistic caliber. Jürgen Weber has also established an excellent reputation through premiere performances of New Music by composers such as Klaus Huber, Jürgen von Bose, Hans-Werner Henze, and Krzystof Penderecki. Among his chamber music partners are Sandor Vegh, Gerhard Oppitz, Rudolf Buchbinder, and Kristian Zimmermann. Over the past few years Jürgen Weber has also collaborated with well-known music publishers such as Schott or Henle.

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