CD Reviews - August 2020

Alfredo Piatti (1822-1901) is chiefly known today as a cellist, and his Twelve Caprices Op. 25 for solo cello are a staple of the cello repertoire. However, he was steeped in operatic orchestral playing from a very early age, employed from the age of eight under the supervision of his father Antonio who led the local orchestra. Donizetti was a close neighbour and family friend, and the young Alfredo was exposed to the world of opera from the beginning, so it’s natural that when he embarked on his solo touring career in his early twenties, he took with him Fantasies that drew on well-known operatic melodies to show off his virtuosic flair. In their second volume of these Operatic Fantasies, cellist Adrian Bradbury and pianist Oliver Davies (who sadly passed away on 2 July 2020) give us four Fantasies based on operas by Donizetti, as well as ‘Rimembranze del Trovatore’ from Verdi’s opera, and the Capriccio sur des Airs de Balfe, which uses three hit numbers from operas by Michael William Balfe (1808-1870). As one would expect from the source repertoire, all of the Fantasies accentuate the dramatic as well as the lyricism of the melodies, and the cello’s singing tone is ideal for this. So in the Introduction et Variations sur un thème de Lucia di Lammermoor, the theme is taken from the opera’s climactic dramatic final aria, and after an introduction of his own invention, Piatti takes us through increasingly virtuosic variations, always exploiting the anguish and grief of the original aria. Bradbury tackles the virtuosic demands with panache, and brings out that sense of anguish in plaintive tones. The Rondò sulla Favorita, from Donizetti’s La Favorite, quotes from five beautifully lyrical numbers from the opera, and the Souvenir de l’opera Linda di Chamounix is similarly packed full of great melodies. In the days before recordings, these delightful showpieces would have delighted audiences and provided a great boost for popularising the great opera hits of the day. The Parafrasi sulla Barcarola del Marino Faliero takes the virtuosity to new heights with dazzling scale passages, ringing harmonics and expeditions to the very limit of the top string. Bradbury’s technique is equally dazzling, yet however showy the pyrotechnics get, he always returns to a simple, warm tone for the lyrical melodies. Turning to Verdi’s Trovatore, we get five numbers from the opera, and here, the piano has a little more to do, sometimes ‘singing’ the aria beneath the cello’s filigree decoration. The Capriccio sur des airs de Balfe finishes the disc, drawing on three joyously lyrical arias from Balfe’s operas.  Bradbury and Davies worked together extensively in exploring and in some places reconstructing some of this repertoire, with Davies preparing piano reductions from original orchestral scores, and Bradbury completing a cadenza, and this close study and working relationship shows in their performances. I somehow missed the first volume of these delightful Operatic Fantasies, and will definitely be seeking that out. In these strange times, these beautiful melodies, decorated with such virtuosic abandon and performed so effortlessly, provide the perfect balm. 

Piatti, A. 2020. The Operatic Fantasies, Volume Two. Adrian Bradbury, Oliver Davies. Compact Disc. Meridian Records. CDE 84659.

Back in July 2017, I reviewed a fascinating recording by Catalina Vicens, inspired by performing on what was possibly the oldest harpsichord, dating from the 16^thcentury.  For her latest recording, Organic Creatures, she takes us back even further, into the 12^th, 13^thand 14^thcenturies, performing this time on organs from that period, some original and some reproductions, including the Van Eyck organ, an organ reconstructed based on the painting ‘The Ghent Altarpiece’ by Jan Van Eyck (1432). The music on this two-disc set is a mixture of repertoire from those early centuries, including music by Hildegard of Bingen, Pérotin, Dunstaple and Isaac, as well as many anonymous works. These are interspersed by compositions by Vicens herself, as well as contemporary composers including Ivan Moody and Olli Virtaperko.  She is also joined on some tracks by fellow organists Cristophe Deslignes and Jankees Braaksma, to particularly striking effect in the lightly swinging Presul nostril temporis, an anonymous 13^thcentury piece. The soundworld here is fascinating, with the breathy sound of bellows and occasional surprising twists and bends, creating an unexpected range from such early instruments. With forty tracks spread over the two discs, there isn’t space here for commentary on every piece, and the booklet notes, whilst beautifully designed, provide little information on the music, much of which will be unfamiliar to all but the most hardened medievalists. Heinrich Issac’s (c.1450-1517) stately Si dormiero and Pérotin’s (fl.c.1200) twisting and turning Organum: Alleluia are delightful, but it is perhaps some of the anonymous works here that are the most intriguing. These range from the highly virtuosic and more substantial 14^thcentury gem, Chominciamento di gioia which forms the centrepiece of the first disc, to the weirdly spooky Audi, pontus; audi, tellus, and the persistent drone and dying bellows of Unicornus captivator, both also 14^thcentury. Vicens’ own pieces complement the programme well, as if almost improvisatory comments on the instruments and the other works. Her Creation (or the nation of creatures) is the most striking, with its vibrating harmonic clashes and ethereal whistling. Of the other contemporary pieces, Carson Cooman’s (b.1982) dancing Nova Cantiga: Rondeau is very effective, as is Olli Virtaperko’s (b.1973) touching Lamento of Ananias. Ivan Moody’s (b.1964) Inperaytriz de la ciutat joyosa is an interesting enough improvisatory exploration, whereas Prach Boondiskulchok’s (b.1985) strangely titled Squonk Diptych is more inventive, and it’s second part Chacona, with its unraveling rhythms, knocks and squeaks is the piece that stretches the bounds of the instrument most. There is a lot here to take in, and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend listening to the two full discs back to back, but this is an expertly performed and conceived project, well worth exploration. 

Various. 2020. Organic Creatures: Medieval Organs Composed - Decomposed - Recomposed. Catalina Vicens. Compact Discs (2). Consouling Sounds. SOUL0139.

Classical repertoire on the saxophone is not everyone’s cup of tea, but personally I love its lyrical potential and rounded tone. Hearing familiar repertoire on an unexpected instrument can add something refreshing, so I was looking forward to exploring saxophonist Gerard McChrystal’s new collection, Solas (the Gaelic word for light). Even more unusually, perhaps, he is accompanied throughout by the organ, played by Christian Wilson, which adds another dimension to the soundworld. And furthermore, most of the repertoire here is performed on the lesser heard (at least in a solo context) sopranino and soprano saxophones, with the alto sax making an appearance for just two numbers at the end of the disc. The disc opens with a Sonata No. 1 by Leonardi Vinci (1690-1730), originally for flute, but here McChrystal’s high trumpety sopranino sax, setting proceedings off with a bright and energetic flair. The Adagio from Haydn’s String Quartet No. 1 follows, with a reverent opening on the organ, followed by the melody ringing out on the rich soprano sax, and McChrystal’s tone here is touchingly warm. The Sonata No. 6 by Nicolas Chédeville (1705-1782) is from a set of six, ‘Il pastor fido’, sneakily passed off by Chédeville as being by Vivaldi, only unmasked as untrue in 1990. Nevertheless, the sonata is a delightful Baroque miniature, originally for recorder, and is played here on the sopranino sax, again with that bright, trumpet-like sound. From there, we enter the world of Handel, and the glorious Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (Eternal Source of Light Divine), originally for voice and trumpet, here a duet for sopranino and soprano sax (both played by McChrystal), creating a beautifully blended sound as the two instruments take the languid melody over from one another. There’s more Handel to come, with the sensuous aria, ‘Cara sposa, amante cara, dove sei?’ from Rinaldo, and a Violin Sonata in G minor. The aria is given to the sopranino, which McChrystal makes sing with plaintive passion, whilst the soprano sax takes the Sonata, and its more mellow tone suits this beautifully, with McChrystal tastefully ornamenting Handel’s simple lines, particularly in the Adagio. There are two more contemporary works here, firstly Green, from Darkness into Light, by Barbara Thompson (b.1944), originally composed for sax quartet, and then A Brief Story of Peter Abelard by James Whitbourn (b.1963). Green opens with gently lilting spread organ chords, before the soprano sax enters with a beautifully melismatic line souring over the top, twisting and turning. Whitbourn’s piece is a set of variations on a hymn tune by the 11^thcentury medieval philosopher, poet and musician, Peter Abelard, with more rhythmic energy and varied interplay between the organ and soprano sax. The disc concludes with the arrival of the darker alto saxophone, after the bright tones of the higher instruments. Firstly, the Choral phrygien by French composer Jehan Alain (1911-1940), a contemporary of Messaien sadly lost at an early age in the Second World War. Dark and sombre, McChrystal’s alto sax here is mournful and full of soul, setting up the mood well for the final piece, Purcell’s When I am laid in earth from Dido and Aeneas, to which the melancholic tone of the alto sax is beautifully suited. In terms of programming, some of the brighter pieces might have served better as a conclusion, but nevertheless, this is a great selection, and in particular, as a showcase for the higher members of the sax family, this is to be highly recommended.  

Various. 2020. Solas. Gerard McChrystal, Christian Wilson. Compact Disc. First Hand Records. FHR93.

(Edited versions of these reviews first appeared in GScene, August 2020)

CD Reviews - July 2017

The first volume of conductor Rumon Gamba’s latest recording project of British Tone Poems, with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales is a promising start.  The disc opens with ‘Spring’, a Symphonic Rhapsody, by Frederic Austin (1872-1952).  This is a lush, filmic work, sounding perhaps more summery than spring-like, but nevertheless infectiously positive in outlook.  William Alwyn’s (1905-1985) brief ‘Blackdown - Tone Poem from the Surrey Hills’ follows, and is subtler in its pastoral hues, despite being written when he was just twenty-one.  Sir Granville Bantock (1868-1946) drew on a poem by Shelley for his tone poem, ‘The Witch of Atlas’, a work full of atmosphere and delicate orchestration and frequent solo passages, detail which Gamba & the BBC NOW bring out beautifully. Troubled composer and poet Ivor Gurney (1890-1937) ended his days in a mental hospital, destroyed by his experiences in the First World War.  Philip Lancaster and Ian Venables have worked on his sketches for ‘A Gloucestershire Rhapsody’, creating a performable work, darker and more wistful in tone, and it is given a sensitive and touching performance here. Henry Balfour Gardiner’s (1877-1950) ‘A Berkshire Idyll’ also contains darker moments within its ostensibly sunny outer frame, and definite tinges of Debussy and Delius, and again there are plenty of opportunities for individual members and sections of the orchestra to shine, which they certainly do here. The disc concludes with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ (1872-1958) early sea-inspired work, ‘The Solent’, with its hints of his Sea Symphony to come.  Even in this early work, it sits in another league of invention, with some particularly haunting quiet string writing. Whilst all these works sit in a relatively limited and harmonically safe soundworld (to our ears now), what stands out is the imaginative and varied orchestration and use of colour to illuminate these quintessentially English landscape portraits.  With richly warm and delicate performances from Gamba and the orchestra, this is a great start to what will surely prove to be a fascinating series.

Various. 2017. British Tone Poems, Volume 1. BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Rumon Gamba. Compact Disc. Chandos CHAN10939.

I first heard viola player Timothy Ridout perform in the Brighton Festival with the Teyber Trio in 2015.  This year he was back at the festival, this time with pianist John Reid, and he gave a commanding performance.  For his debut recording, he has recorded, together with pianist Ke Ma, the complete works for viola by Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881).  Vieuxtemps was a violin virtuoso hailed at his debut as ‘the next Paganini’.  Yet he also frequently played the viola, and wrote a number of works for the instrument, all of which are here.  Only two movements exist of an unfinished second Viola Sonata, although they amount to nearly twenty-five minutes alone, and make for a striking opening to the disc here.  The opening Allegro is full of melodic invention, and the playful Scherzo that follows is a delight, to which Ridout gives great character.  A transcription by the composer of a movement from Félicien David’s Le Désert, entitled ‘La Nuit’, follows, a sweet, salon piece, exploiting the viola’s rich tone.  Next an Etude, with its perpetual flow of rapid semiquavers for the viola supported by delicate chords from the piano. The first Viola Sonata opens with a beautiful lyrical tune in the viola’s lower register before launching into an energetic allegro. The equally lyrical central Barcarolle is followed by an animated finale, in which there is more of an exchange between the piano and viola, giving Ma the chance to join Ridout in the foreground a bit more.  The only work for solo viola here is the short Capriccio, in which Vieuxtemps underpins a lyrical melody with spread chords, building to a highly virtuosic conclusion, and Ridout’s command here is impressive. Once again, it is a lyrical melody that’s central to the yearning Elégie, perhaps the most passionate piece on the disc, and Ridout is highly engaging here.  The disc closes with a perfect encore piece, Souvenir d’Amérique, a set of variations on Yankee Doodle, full of dazzling virtuosic display, and once again Ridout is in complete command of its demands.  This is an impressive debut recording by any standards, and also great to hear lesser-known repertoire for the Cinderella of the string family.

Vieuxtemps, H. 2017. Complete Works for Viola. Timothy Ridout, Ke Ma. Compact Disc. Champs Hill Records CHRCD130. 

Finally, an intriguing release from harpsichordist Catalina Vicens, inspired by the opportunity given to her to perform on what is possibly the oldest playable harpsichord in existence.  Made in Naples in around 1525, the instrument has been restored in South Dakota by John Koster.  While deciding on repertoire to perform on the instrument, Vicens was inspired by the instrument’s possible history, old maps of Naples and writings from the time, as well as her own musings, and as a result she has written a short story to accompany the disc, titled Il Cembalo di Partenope (‘Partenope’s Harpsichord’ – Queen Partenope was the founder of Naples).  It is an atmospheric and dreamlike tale, I think best experienced in the free download audio book (available here) read by Vicens herself, accompanied with music from the CD.  The music itself is by a range of composers from the early part of the 16^th century, starting with Antonio Valente’s (fl.1564-1580) publication of harpsichord works in 1576 and working backwards.  There’s a surprising variety here, although apart from the opening Fantasia del primo by Valente, they are mostly fleeting miniatures.  The dance-like movements, such as Valente’s Gagliarda napolitana, and the lively Calata ala spagnola by Joan Ambrosio Dalza (fl. 1508) add bursts of energy amongst the more reflective love songs and poetic numbers.  There is Italian and Spanish music, and music written for the lute and the voice too.  The harpsichord has a bright tone, and Vicens plays with great delicacy and poise, making this a delightful collection, aside from the added depth of the instrument’s history and Vicens’ atmospheric accompanying tale.  All in all, a fascinating and absorbing project, beautifully performed and presented.

Various. 2017. Il Cembalo di Partenope - A Renaissance harpsichord tale. Catalina Vicens. Compact Disc. Carpe Diem Records CD-16312.

(Edited versions of these reviews first appeared in GScene, July 2017)