Roberto Diaz and Jeremy Denk record Brahms

[hoockaloo]

Is he playing the ex-Primrose, as he is the current owner of it, in this recording?

[Farnik01]

I just saw Roberto play both Brahms Sonatas along with an arrangement of Brahms' G major violin sonata. My impression was of an absolutely brilliant performer. Yes, he is ambitious with his playing. Yes, he has a soloistic "ego" that makes his sound the center of attention. Those who think that those are somehow bad qualities should just stay in the back stand and never be noticed.

[awolfejanson]

I am a violist and i like this recording very much. he gets quite a beautiful tone does nice things with the music. I dont understand the comments that Mr. Diaz is all ambition and ego. things like this should never be said about such a respectable violist as Roberto Diaz. I

[lbrinin1701]

Personally, I LIKE it. it a performance full of youthful vigor power and clarity. There is room in this world for all kinds of approaches and I am always happy to see a new recording of viola music and viola videos on youtube!

[buxter]

I mean, compared to Zuckerman, this guy is nothing... Nada.

[taiwan886]

This Naxos recording is taking forever to be released. I can't recommend a better recording than Lawrence Power on Hyperion...and for the super-charged Viennese playing, Veronika Hagen on DG (available at Arkiv) is incredible. Thomas Riebl's is great too. And Kim Kashkashian's is unique.

[naxosvideos]

@taiwan886 You'll be happy to know we're releasing it at the end of April in the US! (April 27, 2010 to be exact). Should be available on Amazon, Arkiv, Naxos Direct, ClassicsOnline, and any other online retailer you can think of!

[pviola314]

Where is this recording?? Naxos has not released it

[RaiderEleven]

Sensational! Sensitive and very moving by two rising stars!

[ThoughtTravel]

Papi Diaz is at his best he takes the cheaters off, throws away the score, and lets it rip from the heart! ha ha! But this is awesome. Phenomenal playing; but the acoustics and balance of the recording leave me wanting. If you want to compare recordings of this Brahms ... Ori Kam has this on his web site. In Kam's recordings, the viola is very present and the balance with piano is perfect! I challenge that it is the standard to archive. Here, the viola is wonderful, but distant? Why?

[freshechidna]

Nice. This is such a beautiful piece. It's interesting to hear it played on a viola.

[ravelmeister]

what a badass, this guy makes me so glad to play viola and he plays his part so well, so dramatic and always true to himself, isn't affraid so sound bad or take risks....so good

[aldphillip2003]

I once saw a master class in which Diaz ripped this guy a new asshole because he play Brahms out of tune in public. He said "some of those passage are what my three-year-old daughter would call 'a big owwy.'" He concluded his remarks by saying, "I'll leave it between you and your conscience to work on your intonation."

[182278]

really? i heard he was a nice guy. i really want to study with him at curtis. was this guy's intonation really that bad? i don't want this to stigmatize my image of diaz.

[aldphillip2003]

The guy's intonation was pretty bad. He messed up all the important shifts and runs. This was in Aspen back in 2005. I have friends who studied with him at Aspen. From what I heard, he is nice, but expects a lot from his students. If you have the opportunity, study with him!

[mixedinstruments]

most absurd thing i've ever heard. comparing bashmet to roberto diaz. diaz is light years ahead of bashmet. bashmet cannot phrase to save his life. and you must not forget about lawrence power. he might compare to diaz

[BZEN101]

Shockingling stupid comments! Would love to know who the infinitely better representatives are: Roberto is, with Bashmet, one of the ONLY real soloists on the viola. Remember this is real concert hall playing--if it sounds overbearing hear, it's because the mike is so close.

[3311331]

@BZEN101 Robert Vernon Kicks @ss.

[LOTViolists]

@3311331 YES!!! =)

[violist890]

Shockingly aggressive and forced playing of stunningly beautiful music. You hear none of the beauty and passion that can characterize the tone of the viola, only ambition and ego. The viola has infinitely better representatives.

[calebpaxton]

um.

Roberto Diaz.

[ThoughtTravel]

It was a Joke that amigos would understand.

[calebpaxton]

:) hahaa

[buxter]

@violist890 You nailed it.  AMBITION AND EGO in spades. Diaz epitomizes both, not much else.

[zachdellinger]

intonation...