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Kartuli Musika – Music from Georgia Sulchan NASSIDSE (1927-1996) Chamber Symphony No. 3 (1969) Igor LOBODA (b. 1956) Concert Ballade for Violin, Violoncello and Chamber Orchestra* Sulchan ZINZADSE (1925-1991) Miniatures for String Orchestra+ Corinne Chapelle (violin), Alexander Suleiman (violoncello)* Kozue Sato-Stiller (flute), Tobias Albrecht (bassoon) Evi Weichenrieder (celesta)+ The Georgian Chamber Orchestra Ingolstadt Markus Poschner Recorded in Asam Kirche Maria de Victoria Ingolstadt, 2-4 October 2002 GUILD GMCD 7279 [65.02]

Three Georgian composers – and three chamber compositions. Since the names are, at least to me, unfamiliar and the notes aren’t exactly extensive it makes for a kind of "blind listening." The first composer, Sulchan Nassidse, was born in 1927 and wrote three symphonies and two piano concertos amongst much else. His Chamber Symphony No.3 of 1969 is a one-movement work that falls into four sections throughout its eighteen or so minutes’ length. The romantic start with its Shostakovich imprint and the hints too of neo-classicism soon break down; the lost momentum recovers and we hear folk dance lurching heavily and sinuously before a very concentrated moment of introspection and intensity comes over the music and a rather morose Maestoso that does gradually lighten with little flecking and vocalised tints. Certainly aware of Shostakovitch – and Bartók in the animated sections – Nassidse had also lent an ear to Stravinsky. Loboda was born in 1956 and contributes a cryptic few sentences concerning his Concert Ballade – or maybe not, it’s hard to tell. From the opening baleful bassoon this work balances the ostensible two soloists – violin, cello – in the orchestral sound texture, which in this recording is quite echo-y. Strings in the first movement are, to me at least, unambiguously Mahlerian whilst the glints of an emergent Waltz in the second are as if in ghostly slow motion. The solo strings are rather withdrawn over the hallucinatory lightly orchestrated chamber orchestra’s pizzicati. The bassoon and clarinet solos add piquant colour before the patterns of a baroque figure lead into the Allegro agitato – and some bristling attaca. The Passacaglia finale has elements of mildly ironic wind writing before growing more coiled and intense – and ending in an Andante sostenuto with a quiet ascending scale. The last work is the lightest, Zinzadse’s Miniatures. These were arranged from string quartet by the composer and are based on Georgian folk songs. They are undated here but come from varying times in his compositional life; fresh, enjoyable, colourful and not at all quixotic or complex. There’s especial charm in the fourth, fine melodic impress in the seventh (and witty pizzicatos) and an open-air feel to the last. This trio of Georgian works proves diverting listening. Influences are clear but individuality is still potent. Good performances – occasionally too thick an acoustic and rather skimpy notes. Jonathan Woolf see also review by Hubert Culot Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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