Paul Hindemith: Works for Viola d’amore
Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Partita für zwei Violen d’amore und b.c.
(Generalbassaussetzung von Paul Hindemith)
Carl Stamitz: Sonate D-Dur für Viola d’amore und b.c.
(Generalbassaussetzung von Paul Hindemith)
Paul Hindemith: Kleine Sonate für Viola d’amore und Klavier op. 25 Nr. 2
Paul Hindemith:
Kammermusik Nr. 6 für Viola d’amore und kleines Kammerorchester op. 46 Nr. 2
Gunter Teuffel und Annette Schäfer (Viola d’amore),
Jörg Halubeck (Cembalo), Christian Zincke, (Viola da gamba),
Anthony Spiri (Klavier), Mitglieder Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
Hänssler Classic CD 93.309 (2013)
Gunter Teuffel has brought off an extraordinary CD with this recording. He is the solo violist of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra and probably the best viola d’amore player active today. Hindemith, who discovered the viola d’amore as an instrument for himself to play in 1922, not only composed two works of his own for the instrument, but also seriously occupied himself with what is known today as historical performance practice - a movement that was still in the pioneering stage in those days. The results of this work are, amongst other things, his thoroughbass realisations of the magnificent Partita by H.I.F. Biber and the Stamitz Sonata in D major. On the present recording of these pieces, Gunter Teuffel and his ensemble use a harpsichord from the 1920s, with which the colourful Hindemithian continuo part can be vividly reproduced. In the Hindemith works, Gunter Teuffel convinces listeners with the transformation of the sweet, late baroque viola d’amore sound into a new, objective atmosphere: he presents the fast movement in a witty, cheeky and zestful manner, whilst lending warmth and thoughtfulness to the slow movements. The members of the SWR Orchestra show themselves to be in a great mood for the Kammermusik No. 6. The recording of the two Hindemith works has an additional attraction because Gunter Teuffel plays them on the composer's very own viola d’amore built in 1926.
Susanne Schaal-Gotthardt