Gscene 45
CLASSICAL NOTES BY NICK BOSTON
REVIEWS
) Kinga Ujszászi & Tom Foster Cabinet of Wonders, Vol 1 (First Hand Records FHR89). Violinist Kinga Ujszászi and harpsichordist Tom Foster have been exploring the riches of an amazing archive from the late 17th and early 18th
centuries that has miraculously survived all that time in Dresden and is now fully digitised and available online. Known as Schrank II after the cabinet in which it was stored, it gives the name to their new recording, Cabinet
of Wonders - also tantalisingly Volume 1, promising more to come. The composers - Johann Vilsmayr (1663-1722), Gasparo Visconti (1683-1731) and Johann Schreivogel (fl.1707-1749) will no doubt be unfamiliar, but the music chosen here certainly deserves the title. Vilsmayr’s Partita in E flat major, which opens the disc, is remarkable, not least for the extreme ‘scordatura’ - where the strings are unusually tuned to create unusual sonorities and harmonic possibilities. The opening Prelude is arresting, with a ghostly sound initially from the violin, leading into a virtuosic Presto with beautifully sweet double-stopping here from Ujszászi. There are two lyrical arias, the second of which is particularly mournful, then a fabulous Passcaglia is kicked off emphatically by Foster here,
rhythms of the two Mazurkas from Aleksander Zarzycki (1834-1895), and the heart-onsleeve operatic sentimentality of Alfredo d’Ambrosio’s (1871with Ujszászi’s rasping unison 1914) aria perhaps stand out double-stops (courtesy of that more than, say, the admittedly scordatura) reminiscent of the sweet melody of the otherwise hurdy-gurdy. After a brief Menuett, unremarkable Méditation by the Finale is a real improvisatory Joachim Raff (1822-1882). display, with clever echo effects, But when performed with such and Ujszászi really takes flight. commitment and virtuosic flair, We then have two sonatas by as is the case here, even the Visconti - the C minor Sonata is lightest of offerings is a delight full of complex embellishments, to listen to. And occasionally, with some oddly unexpected turns the piano accompaniments rise in the melodic line, while the F out of the background, such as major sonata has a captivating when imitating the guitar in finale, a set of variations on a Moritz Moszkowski’s (1854courtly minuet, with double1925) Guitarre, and in Jones’ stopping mimicking hunting horns. own beautifully atmospheric Here again, both Ujszászi and arrangement of Enrique Granados’ Foster enjoy the opportunity to (1867-1916) Oriental from his 12 display their virtuosic command Danzas españolas. Jones’ tone is to the full. The three sonatas from always sweet, but he avoids sugar Swiss-born Schreivogel are perhaps overload with lightness of touch the most polished compositions, and effortless virtuosity when with some beautifully lyrical lines required. Listening to the whole for the violin. In the last of these here, the lyrically operatic central movement is flanked by two fast showpieces, and in the lilting final movement, Ujszászi’s virtuosic string crossing and rapid finger work is highly impressive and a delight to listen to. On the basis of this stunning offering from the Cabinet of Wonders, roll on volume 2! ) Vaughan Jones & Marcus Price History of Salon — Morceaux collection in one go, there will caractéristiques (1823-1913). inevitably be a few casualties in (First Hand Records FHR80). terms of grabbing your attention, Moving forward a couple of but in isolation each piece centuries, we enter the world is a delight in its own right, of the 19th century salon for affectionately performed here by Jones and Price. ) John Carbon & Steven Graff Astro Dogs & Other Piano Works (Convivium CR057). Chicagoborn pianist Steven Graff has recorded many piano works by fellow Chicago composer John Carbon (b.1951), who I have to say was new to me, and here he plays three sets of pieces, the longest, Astro Dogs: 12 Zodiacal Pieces giving the disc its title. a completely different but Before that come two shorter sets, equally fascinating collection the first of which, Madeleines, from Vaughan Jones (violin) inspired by a trip to France with and Marcus Price (piano). Once his sister when he was a student. again, most of the composers As the name would suggest, these here (14 in all) will be unfamiliar, five short pieces are atmospheric, apart from one or two. And evoking memories and moods. inevitably, particularly with this There is a wistful improvisatory, genre of essentially pleasing almost Chopinesque feel to the and melodic miniatures, some opening Mémoire triste dans un stand out more than others. So café, and a darker, more funereal the virtuosic energy and joyful nostalgia in François et ses yeux
dangereux, remembering the death of a boy they had met in Paris. The final piece, Madeleine déteste les devoirs, on the other hand has a driving rhythm, with disobediently boisterous hints at children’s songs. The three Impromptus, clearly inspired by the pieces of the same name by Chopin and Schubert in particular, are dreamy and again nostalgia features highly, particularly in the wandering second. The third however is much livelier, with its almost mechanical syncopated dance reminding one of Prokofiev or Kabalevsky. Astro Dogs apparently follows an earlier guitar suite, Astro Cats (of course), and in the drily humorous notes, Carbon explains how each piece connects a particular breed of dog with each of the 12 signs of the zodiac. I’m not sure I get the zodiac references, not being an astrology expert, yet despite being a cat person (I must check out Astro Cats), the characters of the dogs are cleverly portrayed here, and Graff brings this out with great variety of articulation and expression. A great discovery - and always a good sign when a recording of a ‘new’ composer makes me want to seek out more of their music. ) Brighton Early Music Festival - BREMF@Home - Across the Earth. As you hopefully read last month, this year’s Brighton Early Music Festival was run as a series
of online events till November 1. Just to remind you that the events remain on YouTube for one week, so you still have time to catch a few of the later events. Head to www. bremf.org.uk for details, or go to the Brighton Early Music Festival YouTube channel, and do consider making a donation for any events that you view.
More info For more reviews, comment and events, visit: n nicks-classical-notes.blogspot. co.uk T @nickb86uk E nbclassical@hotmail.co.uk
