This is Paavo Jarvi’s 4th album with the Estonian Festival Orchestra for Alpha Classics, and the highlight is certainly Tubin’s ballet suite, Kratt (Goblin) - which receives headliner status on the front cover. The ballet is based on 30 folk songs and instrumental pieces, which surely affords it its alluring appeal. Its varied sections are enormously characterful and highly descriptive - appropriate for a story which portrays a goblin, created by man, but brought to life by the Devil. Good stuff! The suite is separated into 3 sections, comprised entirely of dances for various characters - goblin, peasant, exorcist, a variety of animals and the northern lights. All of this is brought vividly to life by Paavo Jarvi at his fiery best, and his orchestra responds with exuberance.
This music is so good I only wish Jarvi had recorded the entire ballet. There is so much wonderful music here I long to hear more of it. And I can find only one complete recording of it - from Alba Records, conducted by Arvo Volmer in 2005 - sadly no longer available on CD (although Presto has a digital download of it - sigh). Paavo’s father, Neeme, also recorded just the suite for BIS, way back in 1985; so maybe it’s time for the other Jarvi conductor, Kristjan, to take on the entire work and commit it to record. After all this devilish (but not terribly sinister) goblin music, the rest of the program - comprised of works just for strings - is much more civilized and tame. Grazyna Bacewicz’s energetic Concerto for String Orchestra never fails to please. Jarvi makes it even more dramatic and imposing than usual - in part due to the larger, fuller string section than is typically heard as played by a chamber orchestra. Jarvi certainly brings the gusto to the opening movement, where his strings play with impressive vigor. In contrast, the rapturous Andante is radiant as played here by a full, vibrant violin section. And the concluding Vivo is positively furioso! Wow! If I had reservations at first with the sheer weight of it all (at least compared to how I’m used to hearing it), I was ultimately won over by the sheer brio Jarvi brings to it. Tubin’s Music for Strings is not as instantly gratifying as Bacewicz’s, but it is appealing in its way. While it conjures Bartok’s more famous, similarly-titled work, it is smaller-scaled (absent the piano and percussion, of course) but no less intense in its fervor. The opening Moderato is less mysterious than Bartok’s, and less sparsely scored, but is instead rather more serious. The central Allegro is vigorous without being nearly as ferocious as Bartok’s. But it’s the closing Adagio which moved me most - building to an overwhelming climax in the middle, played with enormous intensity by Jarvi’s strings. It’s interesting that Jarvi concludes the program with Lutoslawski’s grim Funeral Music, written in memory of Bela Bartok. I didn’t care for the piece all that much the first time through and found it peculiar to close a concert with such a downer. But listening to it again on another day, I began to discover its many rewards and acknowledge it's a wonderful piece of music - despite the placement of it on the CD. While it certainly pays homage to Bartok with frequent hints of his Music for Strings Percussion and Celesta, it can’t really compare to the master in creativity. For instance, the opening Prologue begins mysterioso like Bartok’s, but doesn’t develop with the genius of Bartok - musically or with the scoring. However, the Metamorphosis is notable for the exquisiteness of the violin line above the stark and desolate fabric. And oh my goodness, what a magnificent string section this is; Jarvi draws ravishing sound from his violins, superbly captured by the Alpha engineers. An ugly, discordant Apogeum seems terribly misplaced and unnecessary (but mercifully short), leading into the final Epilogue, which begins with a most impassioned, intensely expressive outpouring played by the entire cello section (which, like the violins earlier, is stunningly played and recorded here). A soundworld similar to the opening Prologue returns, building intensity, before subsiding into a barren, otherworldly atmosphere with sparse textures. And a lone, forlorn cello brings the work to a mystifying conclusion, fading away into nothingness. I've listened to this piece several times, and the more often I hear it, the more I like it - which, incidentally, is my usual reaction to Lutoslawski. He's a wonderful composer whose music, for me, requires just a bit of getting to know before fully appreciating. Alpha’s production is first class, other than their repeated misspelling Lutoslawski as “Lutoslaswski” - on the album front cover, on the booklet cover, and again on the program listing inside. Curiously, they spell it correctly on the back cover, and the booklet writer gets it right in the text (in all three translations). That oddity aside, this is an interesting and rewarding program of music, superbly played and recorded, making this a very enjoyable CD. Paavo Jarvi is a wonderful conductor and this is surely one of his best recordings. ***Update: it appears Alpha has been made aware of their spelling error and may have corrected it on future pressings - although it is wrong on the copy I received just a couple weeks ago. The cover-art picture on Amazon and Presto now either masks the composer's name altogether, or shows it intact but spelled correctly. Better late than never, Alpha Classics.
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The title alone is a bit odd. Why this combination for a CD program? But never mind that, I gave it a spin anyway - mainly because I wanted to hear if this promising young conductor had improved any since his dreary 2017 Stravinsky collection for MDG. I was intensely disappointed with that release for its utter lack of spontaneity, involvement or any spark of inspiration from Weilerstein, and I simply couldn’t imagine why he recorded it.
Happily, Weilerstein sounds more comfortable with the lighter, easier fare on this new collection, and his orchestra gets through it without too much effort from the podium. I know that sounds like faint praise, and I suppose it is. But while there are some good things here, there is really nothing particularly remarkable or outstanding - musically or interpretatively. CD 1 starts off with one of Charles Ives’ most well-known works from 1914, Three Places in New England (also known as Orchestral Set #1.) It is fairly well characterized and rather nicely done here, if not notably so. There are surprisingly few outstanding recordings of this work one could turn to - Slatkin/RCA, Tilson Thomas/DG and RCA, Dohnanyi/Decca - and those are surely getting to be considered “vintage” at this point. However, a quick comparison with Tilson Thomas’ 1999 San Francisco remake for RCA instantly displays a more dynamic, atmospheric and powerful immersion into this music compared to the more leisurely Weilerstein. However, the Claves recording is excellent, featuring a potent bass drum in the second movement which is really quite arresting. Concluding Disc 1 is undoubtedly the highlight of the entire program, William Grant Still’s achingly heartfelt Mother and Child. This was originally the second movement of his 1943 Suite for Violin and Piano, which Still later arranged for string orchestra. It is gorgeously played here, showing Weilerstein at his most inspired. Turning to English composers, Ethel Smyth’s Suite for Strings is sandwiched in between the two American works on Disc 1. It is an arrangement of her early (Opus 1) String Quintet, written in 1884. Cast in 5 contrasting movements, it is smiling and pleasantly tuneful, though made to sound rather lightweight in Weilerstein's hands. The opening Allegro is gentle rather con brio, as indicated, and the final allegro is not terribly molto. The Scherzo comes off best, other than a peculiar, closely-mic'd and queasy-sounding violin solo in its central section, which was just plain weird, actually. The strings sound a bit undernourished in this piece, perhaps in an attempt to retain some of the intimacy of the original. Smyth's Serenade in D Major on Disc 2 is better, heavily laden with the songful expressiveness of Brahms. The first and fourth movements tend to weigh themselves down rather too much with his influence, but the central sections are lighter and rather delightful. It’s an enjoyable piece, just not really uniquely her own. And Weilerstein doesn’t help in this regard, content to let it wallow in Brahmsian glow. In the end, it merely succeeded in making me want to listen to some good Brahms, so I’m not entirely sure that's a good thing or not. Keeping with CD2, Two Pieces by Edward Elgar round off the concert. These chansons are certainly the most musically accomplished compositions of the entire program, and their songful melodies and richly textured accompanying harmonies are wonderfully endearing. Elgar's connection with the program, other than being an exact contemporary of Ethel Smyth, is that these Two Pieces were written the same year as her Serenade (1889). Meanwhile, sandwiched in between these two very traditionally Romantic, English works is the oddity of the program (made more so by the placement of it) - Caroline Shaw’s contemporary and very modern Entracte (sic). Her Entr’acte is a great piece and has been recorded often, but I’m baffled why such an ultra-modern work was chosen to be included here; it sounds distinctly out of place in this company. It was written in 2011, originally for string quartet, and Weilerstein plays the subsequent arrangement for string orchestra. I generally prefer the original for its transparency, clarity of textures and freer, more intimate emotional expression. But it can be successful with more players (the United Strings of Europe certainly make the most of it on their 2021 recording for BIS). However, it sounds just a bit thick and matter-of-fact as played here by the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra. I miss some of the endless variety of texture, color and atmosphere of the best performances. I suspect Weilerstein is asking for long-bows when a little more off-the-string lightness and precision of articulation would have been very beneficial. (Curiously that was a major problem I heard with his earlier Stravinsky - listless, inarticulate bowing from the strings.) All in all, these are pleasant, if not distinctive readings of an unusual program which is perhaps slightly illogical, but certainly unique. In the end, I couldn't get past feeling this program couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be. We have such an odd combination of composers on offer - 2 female, 1 African-American, 1 very contemporary/abstract, while all the rest are resolutely late-19th- to mid-20th-Century, plus a little Elgar thrown in at the end. I think the layout of the program might have been improved by presenting the American works on one disc and the British ones on the other. But that’s just me. As to the production, there is a comprehensive booklet with personal program notes provided by our conductor, and the attractive, foldout cardboard enclosure is impressive. However, surely a couple more pieces should have been included on this set, as we have two distinctly underfilled CDs lasting just 52 minutes each, leaving us a bit short-changed. A terrific new symphony by Adam Pounds. And a strange reading of Berkeley's rare Divertimento.2/22/2024 Before I get to this wonderful new symphony, which is the reason for acquiring this disc, let’s dispense with the fillers posthaste.
The Ravel is just fine - swift, efficient and pleasant, with some excellent woodwind playing. However, I was shocked at how extremely recessed the orchestra sounds on this recording, revealing the enormity of the vast, empty church in which it was recorded. In addition, the acoustic is more reverberant than usual with this orchestra - and curiously more so in this Ravel than in the remainder of this very same program. I’m glad Mr. Couzens fixed it before they got any farther along in the recording session. The Prelude is lush and shimmering in a way a piano could never be, and it’s played up to the speed most pianists do. (It’s actually more difficult in the orchestral version, with some very challenging oboe and clarinet writing.) Unfortunately, some of the delicate detail is rather glossed over at this tempo and lost in the reverb. Similarly, Forlane is much faster than usual (either by pianist or orchestra) but the results are positively delightful. I’ve rarely heard such charm from John Wilson before, aided by wonderful playing from his orchestra. The final two movements are more traditionally paced, with some very expressive oboe playing in the Menuet. Unfortunately, Rigaudon loses some impact with the trumpet placed so far away - way, way back in the hall - minimizing its arpeggiated mini-fanfares. The strings are nicely articulate, but the reverberation is at its most obvious here and rather detracts from the otherwise lovely music-making. Instantly with the Berkeley, the orchestra is less recessed and has gained presence. It’s not more forward (thankfully), it’s just better focused and more immediate. And the brass have rejoined the rest of the orchestra and the trumpets now command a more impactful contribution. All of which is good. But we’ve got to address the serious - and recurring - issue with John Wilson and his string section. What is it with his penchant for insisting his violins play with this bizarre, frenzied, hyper-fast vibrato? It is extremely annoying - not to mention inappropriate - in Classical music, especially here in Berkeley’s charming Divertimento. I think Wilson thinks it adds intensity, but it goes way beyond that. It becomes downright frenetic by the time the central section of the Nocturne arrives, spoiling the emotional melodic line. And it's so frantic in the Scherzo, it adds angst where none should be. The more I hear it, the more irritating it is. The finale comes off best. After a brief introduction, the Allegro generates plenty of gusto and keeps the strings busy enough they can’t be bothered with that vibrato nonsense. The propulsive energy here is arresting, though perhaps misses some of the inherent charm in this music. But Wilson relaxes beautifully in the central meno vivo section and the piece ends enchantingly. Amazingly, there is only one other recording I can find of this marvelous Divertimento - conducted by the composer himself in the 1970s with the LPO (available on a Lyrita CD). While I haven’t heard that for comparison, I can’t help but think Wilson is perhaps trying to make more out of this little piece than there is to it. The booklet quotes how other musicians and composers of the time described it back when it was first composed in 1943 - including descriptors such as “light”, “pretty”, and “balletic”. But Wilson minimizes all that, instead making it rather melodramatic and overladen with anxiety, exacerbated by his anxious violins. However, in the end, there is no denying the vigor and enthusiasm he brings to it, in the typical John Wilson way of whipping up excitement. At last we come to the highlight of the program - the 3rd Symphony by Adam Pounds, written during the Covid-19 pandemic and dedicated to John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London. And everything about it on this recording is an improvement over the previous two selections - from the playing, to the leadership from the podium, to the recorded sound. And I’m so pleased producer Brain Pidgeon saw fit to place it last on the program. The opening Largo instantly sets a tone of passion and anticipation, with some gorgeous solos among the woodwinds (notably the flute). It is soon followed by a very energetic and propulsive Allegro, which barely takes flight before relaxing back into emotionally charged melodic passages. Wilson is superb at characterizing the variety of moods here - from dramatic to beautifully expressive - and the playing and recorded sound are very impressive. A rollicking but somewhat cumbersome Waltz in a minor key takes the place of a traditional scherzo. The booklet describes it as a danse macabre, while the composer associates it with Shostakovich. I hear all of those elements, but heavier than typical of a waltz, and Wilson wisely propels it forward with infectious momentum, preventing it from weighing itself down. The slow movement Elegy is an homage to Anton Bruckner. And if you’re a fan of Bruckner (which I am not), you won’t mind its 8 minutes length. Fortunately for me, I don’t hear actual Bruckner in it. It’s simply gorgeous music, with passion and real angst. It’s very moving and inspiring, and Wilson brings the most out of it (and his strings are well-behaved). I do wish it had ended with the interesting, introspective pizzicato section in the middle, before recapitulating the main theme, which I felt allowed it to go on just a bit too long. The final Allegro moderato takes off with propulsion and vigorous articulation, with hints of Vaughan Williams in a robust mood. Even with all its energy, it's filled with emotion and anguish, still in a minor key. A very moving Largo appears with deep reflection, which is more suggestive of Shostakovich than anything else in the entire piece. The zest of the opening returns, leading to a rather wistful conclusion, with no superficial attempt to dazzle just for show. And it's all the better for it. It is a fitting and appropriate ending for the mood and scope of the piece - especially given the subject matter which inspired it. This is a notable and important new British symphony, given the best possible advocacy by John Wilson and company. The Chandos recording is excellent and the playing is sensational. But it occupies just 30 minutes of this disc. As to the rest, the Ravel is a pleasant bonus (despite minor reservations with the recording), but it’s a real pity the Berkeley is marred by this weird vibrato Wilson elicits from his violins. It was one thing hearing it on his album of classic Hollywood film scores, but it’s entirely out of place in serious orchestral music. It’s an annoying gimmick which is cropping up too often and becoming more pronounced in some of his newer recordings. For god’s sake, will someone please tell him to stop it? It's absolutely ridiculous. I listen to a lot of new music. And not just newly composed, but newly discovered (or revived) music. I am always excited when a record label records a neglected work from a known composer and I hear something for the first time.
After living with the standard repertoire warhorses my entire life, I’ve come to the point where discovering new music is essential - I simply must have it. And the more of it I hear, the more of it I need. And my first impressions of new music are a fair indicator of my ultimate response to it. However time and again, when I encounter something completely new, it often will elicit a different reaction after a second hearing, usually on a different day. A recent recording, which I struggled with, has prompted me to consider my first impressions of new music. The recording in question was the collection of (mostly) rare chamber music on BIS (by Ferguson, Bliss and Holloway), featuring clarinetist Michael Collins and the Wigmore Soloists. I was not familiar with any of this music and honestly, I absolutely hated this recording the first time through. All of it. I thought the music was second-rate, poorly recorded and not terribly well played - especially by Collins himself. I wrote a review expressing these observations, but then stopped myself from publishing it. As is typical in such instances, I decided to let it sit a few days and tried listening to it again. (And then yet again on a different CD player.) And eventually I began to warm up to this recording - or at least identify exactly what made it unappealing and discover some good things too. Why not just go with my first impressions? Well, first and foremost, I really wanted to like this release. I love the BIS label and could hardly believe their recorded sound could be so inferior to their usual high standards. And I have enjoyed Michael Collins’ clarinet playing on several previous recordings for the Chandos label, and again, I found it difficult to believe his playing was so irritating here. (When did he develop such a bright, thin, unsupported tone? Or was this an issue with the recording itself?) And finally, I usually love discovering unfamiliar music, so why was this so off-putting and difficult to enjoy? Which made me reconsider my initial, first impressions and give it another try. After much perseverance, I eventually recognized this music had merit (especially the Bliss) and forced myself to be more tolerant and try to enjoy it. And that’s what I ultimately wrote about in my review - the process of hating it to accepting it. However, the final verdict will be determined by whether I will ever listen to this disc again. And I can state with absolute certainty that I will not. While I recognize the music has value, it still isn’t something I enjoyed, even after living with it for some time - for the very reasons I didn’t like it in the first place. It’s not great music; I’m still not entirely convinced that Michael Collins isn’t sounding a bit out of practice these days; and I’m absolutely convinced that BIS did a lousy job recording it. After further contemplating this phenomenon of “first impressions”, I’ve identified four basic reactions I typically experience when listening to new or unfamiliar music. 1. Once in a while I’ll hear something so horrible, so disagreeable, that I can’t even listen to all of it and turn it off. It’s rare I can’t finish listening to a new piece of music, but it does happen and I don’t spend a lot of time trying. I promptly write it off as nonsense - or worse, noise - destined for obscurity. Fortunately, this doesn’t occur often. 2. Sometimes, though, there is something which may not be instantly gratifying, but I hear some good things in it. Or I recognize elements of true creativity, or at least a reasonable amount of talent from the composer. And giving it another chance, on another day, often proves fruitful and I can then re-evaluate. Many times, my opinion will improve; and many times it won't. 3. And then there are those which take me by surprise. Those which are instantly engaging and captivating (or better yet, riveting) for whatever reason(s) - shockingly original, emotionally moving, creatively innovative, ingeniously scored/orchestrated, or even spectacularly played. These are the recordings which I get the most excited about, and are the ones which I write about most often. 4. But in my experience, the majority of new music I hear is “good”, not great, and largely unmemorable. And ultimately, completely forgettable. These are the ones I rarely write about, because my comments would be very similar for all of them, with a quick, concise summary which gets immediately to the point: “Well played, well recorded, worth hearing, but nothing I'll ever return to again.” And they get filed away on the shelf along with the other 10,000 CDs there, never to be thought of (or listened to) again. ******************************** On the other hand, when it comes to new recordings of well-known, revered masterpieces (Beethoven/Mozart/Tchaikovsky, et al), initial impressions are usually immediate and final. If I hear a performer, group or conductor do something egregious or off-putting - or worse, display a blatant disregard for the score or essence of the music - in works I have loved (and studied) my whole life, then nothing else they do matters. They can be the best players on the planet, but if they mess with the masters, then they’re done as far as I’m concerned. A case in point is last year’s Chandos release of Mozart’s Piano Quartets. I know I have written disparagingly about this recording several times before, but these beloved masterpieces are played with such pretentious self-importance, they are simply intolerable. And for an esteemed label like Chandos to record them for posterity is, frankly, irresponsible. Try as I might (and I really have tried…repeatedly), listening to this CD again and again hoping to hear something - anything - of redeeming value, I just can’t. I can’t get past everything they purposely do wrong, so anything they might be doing right is immaterial. And my first impressions are solidified. The recent Bridge Classics collection of Beethoven Piano Trios (played by pianist Yael Weiss and friends) is better, but still not satisfactory - for slightly different reasons. It’s not quite as fussy (though still more than I like), but is overly Romanticized and rather old-fashioned - with casual tempos infused with too much rubato and too little articulation - which in the end almost sounds more like Brahms than Beethoven. No, this won't do either. I understand the difficulties inherent in making a new recording, especially of familiar, time-honored music that has been recorded countless times before. Aside from the time and financial investment involved, the music-making itself must be fresh and memorable to be relevant. It must be notable for bringing something new to something old. And the challenge is to accomplish that with spontaneity and enlightenment, but without affectation or mannerism. The temptation to “make a statement”, to be remarkable by calling attention to yourself, is sometimes too great. But every effort must be made to circumvent it. One prime example of how to do it right comes instantly to mind - the Dover Quartet’s recent recording of the complete Beethoven String Quartets for Cedille Records. Everything about this set is fresh, incisive and invigorating - infused with vitality and insight. Yet it remains absolutely faithful to the score, preserving the essence of the music without compromise. The difference between the Dover Quartet’s Beethoven and Yael Weiss’s Beethoven could not be more striking. ******************************** In conclusion, I can't help but acknowledge first impressions matter and, in my experience, they're usually right and often impossible to overcome. However, new music which shows real promise deserves a second or third chance to make a lasting impression. Here’s another release from Bright Shiny Things with no program notes included, other than a brief introduction from the group. Also missing are individual track timings. I experienced the same frustration from this label on another of their albums of string quartet music, “shatter”, played by the Verona Quartet. For an album comprised entirely of new music by completely unknown composers, played by a group on its debut album, this conspicuous lack of information is inexcusable. I can only surmise it’s a way to bring down production costs, so perhaps I should be more tolerant. However, I find it curious they took up a lot of what little space they had on the inside of the enclosure to list the names of all the individual string players separately for each piece (many of which are the same). I’m puzzled why that was considered important (other than for members of the ensemble) rather than pertinent information about the music they play.
Grumbles aside, this is a (mostly) wonderful program of music - perhaps with one exception which I’ll get to momentarily. While this is the debut album from the Houston-based string ensemble, Kinetic, they have appeared on record before - on a fantastic 2021 Orchid Classics album of music by Michael Jalbert. Their playing of the title work, String Theory, was positively thrilling and they were also featured on two additional selections on that same CD. So I knew what to expect from their own album, produced by them, presenting all new music commissioned for them. What I wasn’t expecting was to hear pre-recorded bird whistles at the very opening of track 1 (plus what could be human whistling by one of the players too), soon joined by chirping crickets. It quickly became apparent Patrick Harlin’s “Wilderness Anthology” is a collection of tape-recorded nature sounds accompanied by some incidental string music. One wonders if Kinetic had this kind of thing in mind when they commissioned works for their nature-themed album. Musically, there are whimsical whiffs of melodic motifs interspersed among the birds in the opening Dusk. The second section (Jungle Disco) starts with rhythmic crickets (perhaps electronically manipulated) joined by spiccato violins in sync with them, punctuated by heavy, bouncing motifs in the low strings below. This is nicely propulsive and just dancing enough to hint at the “disco” indication. But I thought it needed a little more verve and vigor; this jungle sounds just a little too tame. So too in Dawn Chorus, with its moto perpetuo flurries, a bit more furioso might have been in order. As track 4 plays, I hear…nothing. Whatever is going on here is virtually inaudible until the strings start playing about 30 seconds into it. Backing up and trying it again with the volume turned way up, I could just hear a very faint wind blowing, over which the strings create an eerie, otherworldly soundscape with various effects such as harmonics, glissandi, and mysterious sul ponte meanderings. Similarly in Extraordinary Machine, the opening is practically inaudible with more eerie sul ponte string effects - this time with crawling scalic figures which build with intensity before fading away, taken over by dancing violins (with the occasional open-string twang of fiddling!). The music gains momentum but soon runs out of steam, just like a machine drooping and slowing to a halt, portrayed here by some ingenious orchestration. Soon, the scurrying scalic activity resumes at full power (with the flavor of Piazzolla), culminating in a tempestuous flurry at the end - music which once again simply cries out for more energy and fury from this small orchestra. The birdcalls are back for Nightscape (sigh), with much more variety this time, but oddly no music at all - just 2 minutes of recorded nightsounds reminiscent of Jurassic Park. I had hoped the final track, Dawn, would bring something more musically significant, but it concludes the piece uneventfully, accompanied by prominent sounds of ocean waves lulling us into slumber. This is something of a novelty and, as such, is pleasant enough once through. It's not really my thing, but I admit I found it interesting. I would be more interested, though, in hearing something more compositionally substantive from this composer in the future. Matters improve considerably with the string quartet by Paul Novak. It is a substantial work lasting over 12 minutes, with a variety of continuously flowing sections within its single movement. We encounter stark, desolate (and fantastical) atmospheres, with fascinating orchestration utilizing an endless variety of effects. It's soon overcome by engaging rhythmic patterns, almost minimalist in style. The piece is sparsely scored with transparent textures and an incredible variety of sounds and colorful soundscapes. It is very contemporary, without structure (per se) and not at all tonal or melodic. Novak takes his time, creating unimaginable soundworlds somewhat reminiscent of Dutilleux and Ligeti. I personally don't hear anything suggestive of a flock of birds in this music, but I do hear inspired creativity from a promising young composer. With the next piece, What Happens If Pipes Burst by Nicky Sohn, at last we hear the full string ensemble in all its glorious richness. The group is comprised of 4/4/3/3/2. At first I thought it might be too bass-heavy with 2 bass viols countering just 8 violins, but it’s not. It’s an impressive, full-bodied sound, without ever becoming gruff or overbearing in the bass. And what a wonderful piece this is! It begins energetically with driving, propulsive rhythms. And I hear the vitality from this group that I remember from their previous recording of String Theory. They dig in with gusto, creating a rich, powerful (but never thick) body of sound, which is quite arresting. But it isn’t relentless. There is much interplay between tutti and solo strings, alternating with atmospheric interludes full of anticipation and color. After some time, the rhythmic pulse begins again, hesitantly this time, but builds in tension until breaking out into the most delightful section of capricious whimsy, brought vividly to life by these players. Tempestuous, driving rhythms soon drive it home with an energetic and very exciting conclusion. This is a tour de force, with brilliant playing from this group, and I found it to be the highlight of the entire program. After that, coming last on the program, Daniel Temkin’s “Ocean’s Call” has its work cut out to match the excellence of bursting pipes. And it very nearly does. The opening movement, Hanging Cliffs, is similarly crafted, with tutti passages alternating with wonderful soloistic passages - most notably extended cello solos. It is richly scored and engaging, although I thought the movement went on just a little too long (at over 8 minutes). The central section, The Bitter Salt of the Sea, begins almost imperceptibly, with some interesting (and unusual) rhythmic pulses col legno and scratching effects sul ponte - which would have been more intriguing if we could hear them better. And then when the solo viola enters, it’s too loud. But as the volume levels off, we hear marvelously orchestrated passages with harmonics in the middle strings over pizzicatos below. Col legno rhythmic impulses begin again with mesmerizing insistence, interacting with decorative violins up above it. This was a marvelous section and surely the highlight of the piece. Concluding the work, Lullaby Waves is introspective and melodious, and more unmistakably “American-sounding" than anything else on the entire program. It is somewhat plaintive and sparsely scored, reminiscent of wide-open spaces (ala Aaron Copland), featuring expressive, heartfelt solos from various sections of the orchestra. I love how the piece comes quietly - and satisfyingly - to an end, bringing this concert to a close. The recorded sound is excellent - with the exception of those sections which are simply too soft for a realistic volume level in the home listening environment. I found they worked better on headphones, however, so this might not be a problem for some. Otherwise, this is an entertaining, rewarding and interesting program of new music, played with enthusiasm and finesse by this terrific ensemble. In two earlier blog entries, I grumbled “Enough is enough!” with the Grazyna Bacewicz revival - suggesting record labels were taking it too far, merely jumping on the bandwagon of her recent name popularity. I felt (and still do) that they were giving us too much of her lesser work, particularly when they began digging up some of her discarded, unpublished stuff which didn’t represent her at her finest.
While I wasn’t exactly wrong about that, I now realize there is much more to explore. My criticisms were mostly of her chamber music (and piano concertos), which can get pretty wayward and determinedly atonal to the point of deliberate unpleasantness. But this new recording of her symphonic works shows her artistry in a completely different (and more distinguished) light. I was familiar with Bacewicz’s lighter orchestral music, mostly for string orchestra, and thoroughly enjoyed it. (There are several discs of it on the DUX label and a notable collection on Hyperion.) And I thought her 7 Violin Concertos (on Chandos) were absolutely sensational. So I shouldn’t be at all surprised that I love these two symphonies so much. What does surprise me, though, is how much they sound like Arnold Bax. As a matter of fact, in a game of “name that composer”, I would instantly, unhesitatingly and repeatedly name Arnold Bax as the composer of these symphonies. The booklet writer insists this music is reminiscent of Bartok above all else (and sometimes Szymanowski), but I don’t hear it. Rather, I am consistently reminded of Bax’s grand, colorful, resplendent orchestral tone poems (and even of a couple of his more approachable symphonies, e.g. #2 & 5). There is that same distinctive orchestration (thick chordal richness in the woodwinds, for example) and expansive harmonic landscape, with boundless chromatic freedom so characteristic of Bax. There’s also a similar thematic development style, where the kernel of a tune appears but doesn’t quite develop into one, but instead takes off in unexpected directions, soaring into the heavens. I cannot adequately describe this music in greater detail without first extolling the mastery of conductor Sakari Oramo and the superb playing of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. They are simply magnificent in this music. And so too is Chandos recording engineer Ralph Couzens. If I thought Chandos had attained the ultimate achievement in recorded sound for John Wilson's Rachmaninoff Third and Kenneth Fuchs collection, they take it to new exalted heights with this one. I am always greatly impressed whenever I encounter a recording with Oramo on the podium. One such example is his 2018 Chandos recording of the music of Florent Schmitt with this same orchestra. Another is his 2021 Ravel collection with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic for BIS, which displayed many of the same characteristics. Given that was with a different orchestra and a different record label working in a different hall, I must therefore conclude that this amazing orchestral sound is all Oramo's doing - regardless of orchestra, recording venue or record label. And what he produces is simply extraordinary. We hear a gorgeous orchestral palette of color - lush and cushioned on air in the midrange - with some of the most sumptuous string sound you'll ever hear, creating ravishing textures. On my current (fairly new) SACD player, this Chandos recording is surely one of the most natural and realistic portrayals of a full symphony orchestra I have yet experienced on my home stereo system. It simply sounds like the real thing in a real hall. And it's positively glorious. Getting now to the music, it is indescribable. Except to say, if you know the music of Arnold Bax, you will know what to expect. That being said, credit must go to Oramo - not only for the salient qualities described above, but for his magnificent command of tempos. In the Third Symphony, looking at the first movement alone, the booklet lists no fewer than 15 different tempo indications! All within the overall indication of Drammatico. Oramo takes it all in stride, infusing every passage with a propulsive impetus, directing each contrast of tempo and mood to flow seamlessly into the next with natural forward momentum. And this continues in the second movement Andante, where Oramo gives the “poco piu mosso” indication its full significance, encouraging expressive singing lines to predominate over any hint of excessive seriousness. The infectious Vivace isn’t just fast and vivacious (though it certainly is that), it’s fleet and almost humorous at times - with inventive orchestral effects and gorgeous, rapturously singing strings punctuated by delightful woodwind interjections. The orchestration is magnificent in this symphony - especially so here, titillating the ear in every bar. The Finale is more passionate (as indicated), but again Oramo doesn’t allow it to weigh itself down with emotional baggage. Even with the frequent “meno mosso” indications, he continues to keep the tempo flowing with natural momentum, taking us to the final Presto, which thrillingly concludes what is in my estimation a truly monumental 20th-Century symphony. It is certainly one of Ms. Bacewicz’s supreme masterpieces. After this, the 4th Symphony has an almost insurmountable challenge of equaling it. And it very nearly does. It is not quite as exquisitely alluring as the 3rd, but more dramatic and dynamic - featuring the brass (and percussion) more prominently (and still impassioned with the essence of Arnold Bax). However, Bacewicz is much more restless and fervent in this work, often building to big, powerful, thickly scored climaxes with the orchestra at full cry, which she tended to avoid in the earlier symphony. In the opening Appassionato, we hear fascinating interplay between sections of the orchestra - shimmering strings answered by muted trumpets, for example. There is delicacy too, featuring the harp and expressive woodwind solos (especially double reeds), soon taken over by rhythmic pronouncements from insistent brass. And so it goes throughout - incisive, energetic motifs alternating with ravishing expression, all orchestrated with amazing effectiveness. At last, the distinctive flavor of Szymanowski appears in the Adagio (the booklet frequently makes mention of the elder composer) along with subtle hints of Bartok, before being overcome by a powerful section featuring ff brass. The bustling Scherzo Vivace is more vigorous (and less charming) than that in the earlier symphony, reminding me somewhat of William Walton, with its spiky rhythms and an Eb Clarinet biting through the texture. It’s playful too at times, with interesting back and forth interjections among various winds, with relentlessly busy strings scurrying beneath. The final movement is a bit unusual, perhaps providing a glimpse into Bacewicz's later-period compositional style yet to come. It begins with a very quiet Adagio, but soon swells into extended passages of rather unpleasant atonal brass at ff, before an Allegro furioso takes over with enormous propulsion - turbulent strings competing with pounding timpani and fanfare-like brass declarations. Tension builds (again reminding me of Walton) with interesting back-and-forth commentary from each section of the orchestra, until suddenly released, relaxing into a glorious meno mosso full of atmosphere. It doesn't last long before another brief furioso section leads to a final brass proclamation, bringing the symphony to a rather abrupt, unexpected conclusion, curiously without resolution. If not quite as overwhelmingly awe-inspiring as its predecessor, this symphony is nonetheless an amazing achievement - again demonstrating boundless creativity and fascinating orchestration. Oramo delivers a tour de force in musical involvement and sensational orchestral accomplishment - which, in and of itself, is most impressive. After this, appended at the very end of the disc for no conceivable reason, is an Overture. It isn’t an encore - and the ending of the 4th Symphony certainly doesn't lend itself to prompting one. It’s an Overture. One wonders if producer Brian Pidgeon understands what an Overture is and what purpose it serves in a musical program. Putting it at the end, as if just an afterthought, simply defies logic. Nevertheless, I am happy it is included and I dutifully programmed the disc player to play it first - just as it would be at a live concert. It is a splendid 5-minute concert-opener which sets the stage perfectly for a marvelous program of symphonic music to follow. I wasn’t expecting to be as thoroughly enamored with this music, or so completely engaged and immersed into the music-making, as I was. These symphonies are some of the most rewarding musical discoveries I’ve heard in ages. I loved every minute of this recording and have to say it's already on my “Best of the Year” list - and it’s only January! I can hardly give it more praise than that. This is essential listening for anyone who is passionate about orchestral music conducted with true inspiration and played with commitment, involvement, charisma and character - traits too rarely encountered from too many of today’s symphony orchestras and jet-setting conductors. Recorded in demonstration-worthy SACD sound, orchestral recordings simply don’t get any better than this. And I can’t wait for the projected Volume 2 in the series. Glorious music gloriously played by pianist David Korevaar and the Carpe Diem String Quartet1/19/2024 This is a somewhat difficult recording to write about, simply because the music is so original and innovative, and yet...not new, I’ve never heard anything quite like it. Written in 1919 and 1932 respectively, I would have expected to hear rather traditional Romanticism influenced by 20th-Century Impressionism. And yes there is that. But at the same time, it’s so fresh, modern and forward-looking, I wouldn’t have been surprised to learn this music was written much later.
Luigi Perrachio’s Piano Quintet, composed in 1919, was so pioneering for its time, it’s incomprehensible it has been forgotten for over 100 years. In 2019, pianist David Korevaar discovered its manuscript and presided over its eventual publication in 2022. This CD represents its world premiere recording. And what an incredible discovery it is. But, I’ll get to that in a moment. I actually started listening to the companion work on this CD, from the more familiar composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. I have several CDs of Tedesco’s music on the Naxos label, which has championed the composer's music over the past decade. More recently, Da Vinci Classics has begun a series of new recordings of their own. Tedesco wrote a lot of piano and guitar music - solo pieces, chamber music and even concertos - much of which can be found on both labels. Naxos has also released two CDs of his orchestral music, “Shakespeare Overtures”, as well as a disc of his two Violin Concertos. While I always enjoy his music every time I encounter it, it is his chamber music which appeals most. His popular Guitar Quintet is glorious for sure, and it has been fortunate to receive several excellent recordings during the past decade. And now from Da Vinci Classics comes what must be considered one of his preeminent masterpieces - his rarely recorded 1st Piano Quintet. It has been recorded before: the premier recording appeared on a 2006 Albany Records CD, and a 2016 CPO release gave us both piano quintets. Unbelievably, I do not find either of these CDs on my shelves and regret not having heard them. And even more unbelievably, the CPO CD is no longer available, relegated to the digital-download-only format, making this new recording of the 1st especially treasurable. The first movement is free-flowing, rhapsodic and dramatic, complete with occasional fanfares as if proclaiming a call to action. There are passionate string lines soaring over rich, chordal piano writing, with boundless chromatic and harmonic freedom. The music is so varied and freely episodic it sounds almost improvisational. The Andante continues this rhapsodic outpouring with strong hints of Ravel’s Piano Trio, followed by a waltz-like Scherzo which is just quirky enough to be delightful, if not elegant. And the finale is positively orchestral in scope and orchestration; it’s difficult to believe this music is played by just 5 musicians. Tedesco’s Jewish heritage makes a strong appearance here, especially in the second subject, where the 1st violin is given prominence with distinctive, idiomatic melodies. All through the piece, I was captivated by the ensemble playing. I was particularly impressed with the size, breadth and amplitude of the piano contribution. And in response, the string quartet actually has to work at asserting their importance. The result is a certain muscular intensity to their playing which makes this music so thoroughly engaging. They certainly bring the inherent Italianate passion to the fore. Incidentally, I heard this same passionate playing on their earlier recordings of Jonathan Leshnoff’s wonderful String Quartets (#1 on Naxos, and #3 & 4 on MSR Classics) - although, curiously, only the original violist, Korine Fujiwara, remains a current member of the group (and a former violinist joins as a guest on this recording). Going back now to the premier recording of Perrachio’s Quintet, I was surprised to hear the opening movement instantly sounding rather more contemporary - even more harmonically adventurous, even more freely structured and improvisational. This despite it being composed 13 years before the Tedesco. The first movement is expansive (lasting nearly 15 minutes), with lots of passionate melodic themes played by the strings in unison over big, powerful piano writing. But there’s also some unexpected intimacy too, in the central section for example, with some delectable, transparent string scoring. Debussy and Ravel influences are heard everywhere in this music, but with Perrachio’s Italian distinction predominating. A short Scherzo follows, playful and quirky, with some imaginative scoring for pizzicato strings conversing with staccato piano tinkling. The Allegretto is pastoral in nature, simpler and more singing, while the finale is vigorous (as indicated) but not as passionate or intense as the opening Agitato. It is driven by a dance-like fleetness, often propelled forward by heavier marching rhythms, but never becoming ponderous. The playing is beyond reproach and this music could not possibly receive stronger advocates. The recording quality is very good too, if not quite state-of-the-art. The acoustic is warm but perhaps just a bit confined, slightly enhancing the group's imposing nature. But their awesome dynamic range is splendidly portrayed, from delicate softs to towering louds, and the fullness to the strings suits this music perfectly. This recording is a major accomplishment for David Korevaar and this CD is an important and indispensable release. The Tedesco itself is worth the cost of the disc, and with the inclusion of the Perrachio, it is invaluable. I implore Mr. Korevaar to consider recording Tedesco’s 2nd Quintet as well in the near future, especially since I can find no other recording of it currently available. I have encountered the fantastic Piatti Quartet before, on 2 previous CDs from Champs Hill. Most notable was their 2018 collection entitled “Albion Refracted”, where they play music by Bridge and Britten (and some horrid noise by Turnage) and a premier recording of a wonderful new string quartet by Joseph Phibbs. They also contributed to a comprehensive 4-CD set of Mendelssohn’s complete string quartets (2014) with a performance of his 5th (Opus 44, No 3). In both instances, the Piatti Quartet made a strong and lasting impression - with the vibrancy in their playing and a rhapsodic, almost operatic passion to their music-making.
When I spotted this new release on Rubicon Classics, I was instantly attracted by the appealing cover. And I was mildly intrigued by its headliner, composer Ina Boyle, who is given star billing with an enormous font at the very top. They present the premier recording of her 1934 String Quartet. However, there are other attractions which enticed me more - namely a rarity by Ralph Vaughan Williams and the 2nd String Quartet by E.J. Moeran. I have heard both of Moeran’s quartets (played by the Vanbrugh Quartet on a 1998 ASV CD), but it was so long ago I have no real recollection of them. I do love his orchestral music, so I was eager to hear this new recording of his 2nd string quartet. Also included is a short piano piece by John Ireland, “The Holy Boy”, which the composer subsequently arranged for string quartet. It’s one of his Four Preludes and it's a pity this group didn’t see fit to have the remaining three orchestrated to include here. (There is plenty of room on this CD, which plays for just 58 minutes.) Shortly before receiving this new CD, I had just listened to the Verona Quartet’s new Ligeti recording (ironically on the Dynamic label) and found it meticulous and too civilized. Playing all the notes beautifully is simply not enough these days to become a distinguished modern string quartet. What a difference when listening to the Piatti Quartet! Instantly, I again encountered the vibrancy of their sound which immediately drew me in. And their amazing dynamic range kept me there. And this was in Vaughan Williams! Their playing continued to impress throughout the entire program. What truly fabulous string quartet playing this is. To be fair, some of the credit must surely go to Rubicon Records for capturing the group with such presence and realism in an absolutely gorgeous acoustic (St. Silas Church, London). It’s warm and just reverberant enough to provide a glowing blend, while being dynamically expansive. It’s not always easy for an engineer to get the sound of a string quartet just right, with immediacy and a blended body of sound, in an atmospheric, yet detailed acoustic. But when it happens, as it most certainly does here, it’s simply incredible. Vaughan Williams’ "Household Music" (subtitled Three Preludes on Welsh Hymn Tunes) is a real find. Although it has been arranged throughout the years for various combinations of winds, strings, and even a version for string orchestra, we get it here in its original setting for string quartet. The piece begins with an intimately singing Fantasia (reminiscent of Thomas Tallis) followed by a short, vigorous Scherzo. It concludes with an expansive Theme and Variations, similar in style to his Folk Song Suite. This is wonderful music which I had not heard before (in any guise), and we're off to a terrific start. Coming after it, Boyle’s heretofore disregarded lone string quartet is more rhapsodic and sweet. It is enterprisingly scored and features singing violin writing throughout - gloriously played here by first violinist Michael Trainor. Cast in three movements, it is heartfelt and introspective in a proper, unmistakably British way. It begins with a pensive, free-flowing opening Allegro Moderato, followed by a thoughtful central Adagio - which feels a bit overlong for its material, at over 8 minutes. The final Allegro molto then is far too short (well under 4 minutes) and isn’t as uplifting or vigorous as I had hoped. A more striking contrast from the earlier sections would have been beneficial - perhaps with a touch more molto to it and a glimmer of good spirits as well. It remains rather determined to the very end. Taken as a whole, this Quartet is pleasing and enjoyable, if not necessarily innovative or enduringly memorable. However, it surely doesn’t deserve the neglect it has suffered. It is quite a discovery for this wonderful group to present as the centerpiece of this album. Best of all though, is undeniably Moeran’s 2nd quartet. It was published posthumously and its composition date is apparently unknown. However, it sounds decidedly late period. (The booklet suggests post-WWII.) It has an easygoing folksong feel with more than a hint of Dvorak running all through it. The Allegro Moderato is rhapsodic and much more passionate than anything else on the program. And here the Piatti Quartet really shines. They play with a soaring, almost operatic quality which is extremely moving. This, combined with the suddenness of dynamic contrasts, is appealing and thoroughly engaging. The movement closes with a short scurry of activity before calming into the 2nd movement. The opening Lento establishes a pensive mood on the viola, soon joined by a sweetly singing 1st violin. The two engage in some wonderful interplay, as if in impassioned conversation. The central section takes off in a rollicking Irish jig, with more Dvorak heard in the singing violin line up above it. Hints of Ravel’s Quartet make an appearance in the rhapsodic Andante, which eventually leads to a captivating central section played con sordino. A toe-tapping folksong emerges once again in an animated jaunt through the wide-open countryside, taking us to the end. Rubicon includes a simple booklet with concise notes about the music, but nothing about the quartet or individual musicians. I guess we have to go to the internet for that. Otherwise, the production is first class and this is a most rewarding and valuable release - not only for the rhapsodic, dynamic, enraptured playing, but also for the wonderfully chosen program of music. After enduring the impossibly fussy Mozart Piano Quartets on Chandos last year, here comes a not-quite-as-fussy Beethoven Piano Trios set on Challenge Classics. And in both cases, it is the piano playing which is cause for concern. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
I must start with a general observation about the production itself, which is a bit unique - possibly helpful (to some), but certainly irritating (to me). These Trios are not laid out in chronological (or numbered) order. Instead, they are assembled for maximum disc length in order to squeeze them all onto just 3 CDs, whereas the usual layout involves 4 (or even 5, depending on additional fillers). So economically, it’s nice, right? (And you can be sure it’s better for Bridge than it is for the consumer.) But musically, it’s absurd. Just glance at the back cover (pictured above) to see how these are presented and then figure out how you’re going to go about listening to them. But there might be another reason behind this layout - one perhaps only they are privy to. After listening to the entire set, I concluded the very first work presented on CD1 (Opus 70, No. 1 - the Ghost) is by far the best performance of the lot. And that can make a difference if you listen to it in the order they want you to, because it makes a strong, favorable impression right up front which they’re hoping will influence the listener in that direction throughout all the rest. As opposed to what I did. I listened to these in order, skipping over the Ghost and going directly to track 5 to hear Opus 1, No. 1 first. And I was not impressed in the slightest. And, sadly, that feeling persisted throughout my listening to the rest. (At least until I heard them play the Ghost. But I’m getting ahead of myself again.) My observations in this review apply almost entirely to everything but the Ghost. (And I'll get to that soon enough.) In general, I find this to be rather fussy Beethoven, with some self-conscious rubato cropping up just about everywhere. Also troublesome is some uncertainty in interpretive approach from the 3 players as a coordinated, unified ensemble. The violin and cello seem to be in sync with each other regarding such matters as articulation and phrasing, while the pianist just does her own thing - seemingly unaware of what the others are doing musically. In the Opus 1 Trios, it’s in the scalic passagework where this is most obvious. The strings play with precise, articulate bowing - producing fairly crisp, clean, rhythmically secure passagework (though it’s not quite spiccato). While the piano responds with legato, almost mushy passagework. (I call it “blurred”.) And the problem is that it’s just not quite rhythmically secure. I hear it as over the top - just managing to get in all the notes in the right amount of time. This observation persists, where I often became aware of this odd “blurring” in the piano playing. I might not mind it as much if they all were doing it, but Yael Weiss alone plays this way. In the more mature works, matters of articulation are less bothersome, and rubato becomes more of a distraction. Interpretively, you will hear quaint Beethoven trying to be charming - and not quite succeeding. It’s just a little too temperamental and overly-Romanticized. And tempos are generally a bit too relaxed for my taste. These are surprisingly old-fashioned readings - the very opposite of fresh and invigorating. And frankly, it’s a little bland. I’m not sure that’s exactly what this group was striving for, and it’s certainly not what I want to hear in Beethoven. You'll also hear a touch of “historically informed” string playing, often with minimal vibrato and sparse textures. However, they don’t get obnoxious about it, but retain a sweet, silky tone at all times. As a matter of fact, violinist Mark Kaplan plays with an alluring variety of color, textures and vibrato speeds. I especially love how he plays soft passages sotto voce with an almost muted sound. There is a vibrancy to his pianissimo which seems to resonate in the wood of the instrument more than the string. It’s hard to explain, but it’s absolutely lovely to hear. As a matter of fact, Kaplan’s violin playing makes this set worth listening to. But that’s as far as historical insight goes here (other than all repeats being observed, which is a plus). The piano often plays with too much pedal and certainly too much rubato, veering ever so close to affectation (sometimes sounding downright awkward, like in the final movement of the Archduke). And as noted above, tempos are nowhere near what we might expect from a historically enlightened group. Another thing you’ll hear is very good recorded sound from Challenge Classics. The acoustic is warm and relatively clean (if not quite as airy or spacious as the very best). And the piano is naturally balanced behind the strings. Just as I was about to finish up, I remembered I had skipped over the opening tracks of CD1 and hadn’t listened to the Ghost. (And this illustrates another reason why I hate the layout. Getting through these is quite a chore, which is unacceptable.) So I dutifully went back to it and witnessed the group come alive! with a newfound vitality largely missing from all the rest. At last I hear commanding, articulate, energetic playing from all three players. And tempos are invigorating. This finally sounds like what I was anticipating from this group. Their playing is vigorous without being aggressive, which is not always easy to achieve in this work. As good as this is, it alone can’t redeem what is overall a disappointing set. And I can't imagine why so many seem to like it (based on various reviews elsewhere). There are two far superior recent ones I can name - the even more complete set played by Trio Elegiaque on Brilliant Classics (2012, 5 CDs), and even better, the Xyrion Trio’s comprehensive survey on Naxos (2004-2013). Both those sets feature crisp, alert playing; unified precision in interpretation; lively, vivacious tempos; a pervading sense of spontaneity; and even clearer, more immediate recorded sound. Perplexed by this new set, I explored the booklet for possible explanations. I stumbled across something informative in their bio, which describes the group as “combining the talents of three award winning soloists”. And there it is. That’s exactly what I hear - three soloists playing together but perhaps without a solid, unified agreement as to interpretation. They just don’t quite “gel” yet. Their bio also tries to convince us they bring “authority, energy and passion” to each performance. Well, that may be when performing live, but I don’t hear enough of that in these Beethoven recordings. There is a good amount of it in the Ghost, but not enough elsewhere to be persuasive. I also discovered in the booklet that these recordings were made back in 2019 and are only just now being released on CD in late 2023. How odd. I realize the pandemic put a halt to production for some time, but with this already “in the can”, I wonder why it was delayed 4 whole years. Whatever the reason, and despite the annoyance with the layout, the production is first class - especially the booklet. In addition to useful information about the music and musicians, it also contains personal essays from each member of the group, summarizing their approach to, and experience with, playing Beethoven - which I found most interesting. After being somewhat disappointed with this ensemble’s previous disc (Beethoven and Berwald Septets), I decided to give them another chance with this newest release on the BIS label. They play music completely unknown to me so I was eager to explore.
While I had issues with the violin playing in their earlier release, on this current program, it's with the clarinet playing. When did Michael Collins develop such a bright, edgy tone? I certainly never heard this on his Chandos discs. And I don’t ever recall hearing a BIS recording - ever - that was in the slightest bright and edgy. But that is exactly what we have here - even on SACD. In the first two works on the program, Howard Ferguson’s Octet and the Bliss Quintet, the clarinet is prominently balanced as if these are clarinet concertos. He’s given a bold, forward placement in the mix and afforded a bright edge. In addition, the strings sound thinner than they should, exacerbating the brightness. Worse, the group is presented with a flat perspective with each instrument vying for attention in a bold, forward manner. The results are often clamorous - the very opposite of alluring. I don’t know if it was the irritating sound or unappealing music (or both), but I didn’t enjoy either of these pieces the first time through. So I decided to set this aside and come back to it a few days later for another attempt. I came away with similar impressions, but matters were a bit more favorable this time around. I recognized that the Ferguson has some real potential, and perhaps with more pleasant sound, might be quite rewarding. And if one can listen past the edgy violin and clarinet, there is some delightfully characterful playing throughout the group. The Bliss too became more appealing - rhapsodic, with some early 20th-Century Impressionism within its rich scoring. And there is a passage near the end where Collins plays with a delicate pianissimo way up high, which is actually quite lovely. If only the group had played softly more often. As it is, there is a pervading touch of aggressiveness throughout which the piece doesn't deserve. Trying this disc on a different SACD player with a good set of headphones, I quickly realized it's not just the clarinet given the forward edge, but also the first violin adding its own. The combination of the two is quite overwhelming. And the noisiness of the acoustic actually became worse. The third work on the program, the Serenade (Octet) by Robin Holloway, is decidedly more contemporary and sparsely scored. It’s slightly better recorded too. The lower strings gain some body, adding a bit of warmth, and the clarinet and violin are more naturally balanced (though the flat, forward perspective remains). Nevertheless, this is still not a great piece of music, and the unskillful orchestration does it no favors. Holloway quite ill-advisedly writes exposed passages for the clarinet in the extreme highest register (we're talking notes above high G). Mr. Collins does his best to accommodate the composer’s preposterous demands, but it sounds absolutely excruciating, despite the slightly softer recording perspective. Going back to the entire program on a 3rd day, for one last try before writing this review, I found myself adjusting to the boldness of the sound and appreciating all three works much more than before. While my criticisms still apply, I was finally able to listen through them and simply enjoy the music more. About this recording, the booklet reveals that the first two pieces were recorded two years earlier (in 2021), with a different sound engineer, than the Holloway (2023). That's interesting. And curiously, just as I noted in this group’s previous release, these newer recordings weren’t made in their namesake Wigmore Hall either. This time they’re in the Menuhin Hall, Surrey, England. I simply can’t imagine why this group doesn’t record in their own hall, especially when the Menuhin Hall is so unflattering to their sound (at least as recorded here). This release took some perseverance (and more than a bit of tolerance) to enjoy. At first I was skeptical of the music itself; then critical of the playing. But in the end, I've concluded it's the BIS engineers who must shoulder much of the blame. I'm baffled how (or why) they managed to make this sound like it does. If you are a clarinet player interested in hearing Michael Collins play lots of high notes, then this recording may be enticing. However, if you want to sit back and enjoy some really good chamber music and relish consummate ensemble playing in state-of-the-art recorded sound, then this disc will be a bit of a challenge. But rewards can be found with repeated listening. |
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