fascinating and rewarding introduction into the musical world of three lesser-known Soviet composers in the hands of an intensely musical soloist, Bibi Black. There is ...
fascinating and rewarding introduction into the musical world of three lesser-known Soviet composers in the hands of an intensely musical soloist, Bibi Black. There is ...
fascinating and rewarding introduction into the musical world of three lesser-known Soviet composers in the hands of an intensely musical soloist, Bibi Black. There is a surprising quasi-Spanish feel to the declamatory opening of Arutunian's trumpet concerto. The whole is expertly scored, encompassing both nostalgia (witness the meltingly beautiful melody introduced by the clarinet) and exuberance. Black is receptive to every mood and colour in both this and the ensuing lyrical Variations. Alexandra Pakhmutova (born 1929) contributes a beautifully proportioned concerto to the disc. The warm recording highlights the intimate introduction, before a bright, rhythmic section infectiously carries the music away. Parts of this piece are positively balletic, an aspect both soloist and orchestra relish. The Vainberg carries the most substance, however. From the trumpet's opening statements--almost challenging the listener--this composer's mastery is clear. Vainberg encompasses charming comic effects as well as the haunting melodies of the second movement and the wit of the final movement, even interweaving musical quotes along the way. This is a perfect vehicle for Black's considerable talents. Orbelian is a close and attentive accompanist throughout. --Colin Clarke
fascinating and rewarding introduction into the musical world of three lesser-known Soviet composers in the hands of an intensely musical soloist, Bibi Black. There is a surprising quasi-Spanish feel to the declamatory opening of Arutunian's trumpet concerto. The whole is expertly scored, encompassing both nostalgia (witness the meltingly beautiful melody introduced by the clarinet) and exuberance. Black is receptive to every mood and colour in both this and the ensuing lyrical Variations. Alexandra Pakhmutova (born 1929) contributes a beautifully proportioned concerto to the disc. The warm recording highlights the intimate introduction, before a bright, rhythmic section infectiously carries the music away. Parts of this piece are positively balletic, an aspect both soloist and orchestra relish. The Vainberg carries the most substance, however. From the trumpet's opening statements--almost challenging the listener--this composer's mastery is clear. Vainberg encompasses charming comic effects as well as the haunting melodies of the second movement and the wit of the final movement, even interweaving musical quotes along the way. This is a perfect vehicle for Black's considerable talents. Orbelian is a close and attentive accompanist throughout. --Colin Clarke
Advantages: Beautiful relaxing music. Rich instrumentation. Played with passion. Disadvantages: Not all instruments are from the period.
...is completely different with an unexpected but delectable quartet of trumpet, recorder, oboe, and violin soloists set against the main body of strings and continuo.
The third concerto is more conventional and straightforward using just three violins, three violas and three cellos with harpsichord and bass continuo. Each of the three instruments are given equal dominance and the music flows almost conversationally between rising to a boisterous bursts of energy.
In the fourth concerto, recorders are heard in the distance over the stringed accompaniment. The recorders, played by brothers Christopher and Richard Taylor (famous for playing flutes with the Beatles on Fool on the Hill and Magical Mystery Tour) with clarity and precision, exude an irresistible charm and sweetness. This is often considered to be the lightest and prettiest...
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Advantages: Wonderful transcriptions of JS Bach's majestic music; sensitive, tender, vivacious, effortless and fluid playing. Disadvantages: Nil.
...Her latest CD from EMI Classics, ‘Bach/Works for Trumpet’, already tops zerbine28's list for Classical CD of the Year. (I know, I know, it's only April as I post this, but that's how strongly I feel about this recording.)
Readers, if you please, do welcome young British trumpet player Alison Balsom, who now joins the ranks of Mssrs Miles Davis and Herb Alpert in my teeny-tiny list of favourite trumpeters. No, I never heard of her, either, before yesterday, when I first sampled her CD at the local Borders book and music shop.
Released just this past January, the CD is an absolute stunner. The title is a little misleading, because Johann Sebastian Bach never wrote pieces specifically for the instrument (discounting the Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, of course). Besides which, the ‘trumpet’ in Bach’s time...
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Advantages: A powerful experience to make you think Disadvantages: Too much thinking makes the brain ache
..., percussive sections.
*** *** *** The Background *** *** ***
Few, if any, of you will have lived in fear of the midnight knock on the door by secret police, the fear that you will be taken away to some terrible interrogation centre and subjected to unspeakable tortures. We can only guess at the effect it must have on the human spirit. Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), an intensely shy and private man, the leading composer of the Soviet Union, lived with this fear for much of his life.
It’s against this background that he wrote his Eleventh Symphony, subtitled “The Year 1905.” Bear with me while I pad the picture out a little: it makes a difference to one’s appreciation of this remarkable work.
Shostakovich found early success with his music and, as a good communist, tried hard to reconcile his creative spirit with the need to satisfy...
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very helpful 12.10.2003
(13.10.2003)
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13.04.2006
