Tag: Classical

Vinícius Perez
62:14
klanglogo KL1515
Haydn: Sonata in C, Hob XVI:10
Kohaut: Sonata in D
Mozart: Divertimento KV 439b/II
Scheidler: Thème de Mozart varié

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n this very enjoyable CD, Vinícius Perez explores music which is not usually heard on the lute. He begins with his own arrangement of Joseph Haydn’s Sonata in C (Divertimento Hob XVI:10), composed before 1767. The score for piano may be found on the IMSLP site. This is distinctly more classical in style than the Galant of the CD’s title; it has well-balanced phrases and a clear structure. Perez transposes some of the bass notes down an octave to exploit the low diapasons of his 13-course lute, and he adds ornaments where appropriate. In the first movement (Moderato) he plays his own ear-catching cadenza before the initial melody returns, and puts in attractive little flourishes and fast descending scales to enhance the final statement of the theme. A much decorated Menuetto in C major with triplets (effectively 9/8) contrasts with the Trio in C minor without triplets. His embellishment of the Menuetto on its return, is stylish and pleasing. The Finale is marked presto, and Perez bustles along at an exciting speed, stopping for an occasional dramatic pause. A passage of slurred quavers modulating through various keys contrasts with the slick ornamental triplets of the last lap. Perez produces a good sound, dampening notes where necessary to stop excessive resonance, particularly in the bass. This allows him to produce clear, lyrical lines without the underlying muddiness one sometimes hears with baroque lutenists, when diapasons are allowed to ring on too long and jar against each other.

Lesser known today is Karl Kohaut (1726-84), a diplomat, violinist, lutenist and quite prolific composer who lived in Vienna. Perez plays Kohaut’s only surviving Sonata for solo lute. The Adagio is a beautiful piece of music, expressively performed with well-shaped melodic lines, and a spine-tingling passage of high notes towards the end. It is followed by a brisk, yet not rushed Allegro with broken chords and surprising appoggiaturas a semitone below the main note. The Sonata ends with a highly ornamented Menuetto and Trio, where Perez skilfully takes us through a variety of contrasting moods. It is quite delightful.

One does not normally associate Mozart with the lute, but according to the liner notes, a cadenza survives which he wrote for the lute. Certainly Perez’ arrangement of Mozart’s Divertimenti for three basset horns (KV 439b) works extremely well on the lute, and captures the delicacy and finesse one associates with the great composer. I enjoyed the Menuetto and Trio (Track 8), since it was re-written by one of Mozart’s contemporaries in Die Wiener Sonatinen, which I played as a child on the piano.

The CD ends with Christian Gottlieb Scheidler’s Variations on Mozart’s Champagne Aria from Don Giovanni. The second half of the theme is the same as the well-known folk tune “The Keel Row”, a simple tune over just tonic and dominant, but the extravagant variations are far from simple.

Stewart McCoy

Ophélie Gaillard, Pulcinella Orchestra
82:00
Aparté AP118
Sinfonias in C (Wq. 182/3, H. 659) and e (Wq. 178, H. 653), Concertos in B flat (cello, Wq. 171, H. 436) and d (harpsichord, Wq. 17, H. 420), and Piccolo cello sonata in D (Wq. 137, H. 559)

[dropcap]“[/dropcap]First you must feel the emotion that you will then arouse in the listener” is printed under the composer’s name on the reverse of the packaging for this excellent CD. It quotes the composer himself, and is Ophélie Gaillard’s starting point for performing his music, which I must confess she – and her colleagues – does very, very well. She is the star turn in the B flat major concerto and a D major sonata, in which she is partnered on harpsichord by the soloist in the other concerto on the disc, Francesco Corti. He also plays fortepiano continuo in the sinfonias, and I wish he had been allowed to emerge from the texture even more than he does. Nonetheless these are possibly the best performances I have heard of both of those works.

Gaillard and co. clearly get C. P. E. Bach – the fiery lines of the last movement of the C major sinfonia are electrifying. All the more so because the recorded sound is immediate without being narrow; there is plenty of space for the sound to expand into, and when the whole ensemble plays in octaves (as they do quite often!), the effect is simply wonderful.

The cello concerto is something of a masterclass in how to play this repertoire; Gaillard is majesterial, Corti and the continuo cellist dialogue beautifully with her in extended solo passages, the upper strings provide equally sympathetic accompaniment when the composer opts for a change of texture, and the tutti passages are dramatic and neatly delivered. More, please!

Brian Clark

Quatuor Zaïde
101:06 (2 CDs in a wallet)
NoMadMusic NMM027

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hile the Quatuor Zaïde are not HIP specialists, their approach to Haydn’s music is utterly “authentic”; they do not “tone down their normal style” to fit the music, they simply get under Papa Haydn’s skin and throw caution to the wind in getting all his energy and wit, as well as the depth and pathos, and conveying it all beautifully to their audience.

The balance between the four instruments – which is one of the many joys of this quartet – is perfectly captured by the recording team. If you do not know these six fabulous quartets, I cannot think of a finer introduction.

Brian Clark

David Grimal violin, Mathieu Dupouy fortepiano
77:56
Hérisson LH13

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he first five of these six sonatas consist of only two movements; the sixth adds a central andantino cantabile to the mix. As well as the fine performances, one of the principle attractions of this CD is the booklet note, which not only paints the background to the sonatas superbly, but also gives details of the Gräbner fortepiano used. When I played these works, it was never quite clear to me whether the violin was accompanying the keyboard, or vice versa, or whether in fact the whole thing was in a state of flux. For the most part, I find the balance between the two works well, and the recorded sound is fabulous. Maybe the pair can go on to record some Hummel sonatas, now? Please.

Brian Clark

l’arte del mondo, Werner Ehrhardt
62:35
deutsche harmonia mundi 88875056172
Symphonies 21 in g, 26 in c, 34 in D

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he three symphonies which receive world premieres on this fabulous recording were written between 1786 and 1789, during which the time the composer – who is perhaps best known nowadays for his virtuoso works for double bass – endured unsettling times professionally; by 1789, he had settled into his final position in the court orchestra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. They all follow the same pattern; after a lively opening comes an Andante, a Menuetto and a Finale. That is where an predictability ends, however; indeed, if these three works are typical of the composer’s symphonic output, I am very surprised that they are not featured on concert programmes more regularly; cast very much in the Viennese classical style (like Beethoven and Hummel, he was a pupil of Albrechtsberger), the violins carry the majority of the melodic interest, with colour supplied by the woodwinds. Of course, we live in an age when Haydn struggles for public performances, indeed, even Mozart does! Still, l’arte del mondo and Werner Ehrhardt deserve our thanks for bringing new repertoire to our attention, especially in such beautifully crafted performances.

Brian Clark