OLIVER STEINER, VIOLIN BONNIE WAGNER, PIANO: Brahms Sonata No. 3 in d minor and music of Dvorak-Kreisler, Brahms-Joachim, Bruch, Wieniawski, Tschaikovsky and Sarasate

Oliver Steiner, violin Bonnie Wagner, piano

Brahms Sonata No. 3 in d minor and music of Dvorak-Kreisler, Brahms-Joachim, Bruch, Wieniawski, Tschaikovsky and Sarasate

© 2006 Oliver Steiner

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A violinist of exceptional expressive depth about whom the New York Times said: "This was a splendidly played concert in which fine-honed techniques and superior musicianship asserted themselves at every point."

notes

Oliver Steiner was born in New York City, beginning his violin studies there at the age of seven. Following his studies with Dorothy DeLay at the Juilliard School, Mr. Steiner was selected by Nathan Milstein for a scholarship to study with the legendary master in Zurich. Steiner also appeared in chamber music and solo concerto performances at the Pontino Festival in Italy and at the Yehudi Menuhin Festival in Gstaad.

Though his performances overseas and throughout the United States have included radio and television broadcasts, recordings, solos with orchestras and chamber music concerts, he is best known as a recitalist. His recital programs invariably include shorter works, of which he is so fond, as well as the larger masterpieces of the violin repertory. In an interview in the Baltimore Sun, Pinchas Zukerman said: "When Ollie plays that stuff - the shtikeleh (Yiddish for "little pieces") and the transcriptions the old-timers used to play - he can really make the past come alive."

The New York Times titled its review of Mr. Steiner’s Carnegie Recital Hall debut: “Steiner Violin Sparkles”, calling his performance: “a splendidly played concert in which fine-honed techniques and superior musicianship asserted themselves at every point.”

From 1972 to 1992 Mr. Steiner was a member of the violin faculty at Rochester New York’s Eastman School of Music. He now lives and teaches in Atlanta.

Mr. Steiner has recorded for National Public Radio, Orion Records and Albany Records.


Bonnie Wagner, pianist, is originally from Los Altos, California. Her performances include the Eastman in Geneva Series in New York, the Brevard College Chamber Music Series in North Carolina, the Hill and Hollow Chamber Music Festival in Saranac, New York, and the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. She has coached a University of Michigan production of Don Giovanni and taught vocal music in Rishi Valley, India. In the summer of 2005 she produced a small chamber music series in Philadelphia, Center City Chamber Recitals. She will be a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center in vocal piano during their summer 2006 season.

Ms. Wagner is on faculty at Westminster Choir College, where she works with undergraduate voice majors. She also teaches piano at the Settlement Music School and works regularly as a vocal coach and accompanist at several universities in the Philadelphia area including the Curtis Institute and West Chester University. She studied at the University of Michigan, from which she holds a Masters of Music in Chamber Music and Accompanying and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. Her primary teachers include Martin Katz, Katherine Collier, Logan Skelton, and Janet Smith.


This recording marks a festive occasion for Mr. Steiner and Ms. Wagner. They are uncle and niece who have played music together over the years, and starting with the 2004-2005 season, have begun performing together in concert engagements. This is their first recording together.

reviews

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  • Real conviction and deeply felt music making
    author: Sydney Manowitz

    Violinistic Qualities--------- What I love about Oliver Steiner's playing [on the technical side] is first the perfection of intonation but equally every bow stroke is assesed as to exact length, pressure, speed,etc.This all results in an open warm sound, with exact emphasis where needed. Interpretation------ There is a quality which I associate with opera singers of an earlier generation like Tetrazini .One feels they beleived the phrase could be shaped no other way.When Steiner plays a phrase,he "owns" it.This is playing with real conviction. Brahms Sonata--------The days when the commanding soloist threw a sonata at the accompanist as part of a virtuoso recital is going or gone or should be .Here I admit to being totaly hypocritical -because I continue to do this sort of thing. However I do rather prefer to hear a romantic sonata played with a real sense of duo.This can be best done by two soloists with great knowledge and feeling for the give and take of ensemble playing or by two fine ensemble artists. Although I can appreciate the audio engineer's desire to capture the sound naturally with one microphone,I feel the score is better revealed in duo romantic sonatas when equal attention sound -wise is given to the piano.I found the bass range especially a little on the light side.Those reservations aside,the Brahms 2-4 middle movement has a joyous spirit that I found absolutely infectous. Salon Pieces-----However, balance- wise it all works fine in the shorter works.So if your happy with a selection which has deeply felt performances of slow works side by side; and Wieniawsky is not played with "in -your -face" virtuosity ,but with real elegance, then this is the cd for you. Sydney Manowitz [professional violinist and teacher working in New Zealand]

  • Highest level of expressiveness and quality. Very valuable
    author: Linda L Ford

    I hope Oliver Steiner and Bonnie Wagner can create more of their repetoire on CD Baby.

  • Excellent album - Beautiful playing and selections.
    author: Chris

    Excellent album - Beautiful playing and selections.

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