Partita (symphony No. 2) (1958) [28.26]
Fantasia (string orchestra) (1960) [12.08]
Sonata for solo violin (1948) [7.30]*
Winterreise (orchestra) (1999) [6.59]
Reference Recordings have a long-standing relationship with José Serebrier
as conductor. That relationship has brought us some extremely fine discs.
Apart from their obvious technical accomplishment RR's choice of repertoire
with Serebrier is more than creditable. I have already reviewed their Rimsky
(RR89), Janacek (RR 65 and
75) and Chadwick
(RR64 and 74). The Chadwick and Rimsky
discs are outstanding.
The RR team now offer a selection of Serebrier's own works and they do so
in their accustomed splendid sound. The symphony No. 2 is more of a suite
than a symphonic statement. It comprises four varied orchestral movements
with little in the way of organic linkage. The incidents are often attractive
and extremely colourful (well caught here) and can be rewardingly appreciated
as a suite hence the primary title of 'partita'. The first movement's pot-pourri
of Latin-American figures and rhythms prompts thoughts of one of Serebrier's
benefactors and influences: Aaron Copland (El Salon Mexico). The finale
is bright and ends in percussive salvoes.
The Fantasia is an extremely fine work of romantic demeanour. Its
song-orientated approach prompts thoughts of Arthur Bliss in his most athletic
vein of lyricism (Music for Strings). This is certainly a work you
will want to hear again. The more forbidding format of a sonata for solo
violin is always a challenge. Violinists may listen to such recordings in
technical appraisal but what of the general listener? In fact this work is
of a riper vintage than you might have feared. Overtly virtuosic, its cartwheels
and high-voltage gymnastics have a compulsion of their own. Certainly it
is not a desiccated work and in my judgement more instantly attractive than
say the Frankel or Bartók solo sonatas.
The Winterreise violin concerto was written as a partner for a 20th
century collection of concertos each taking the seasons as its subject: Milhaud
Spring Concertino, Rodrigo Concierto di Estio (a deeply attractive
work - too easily eclipsed by Aranjuez) and Chaminade's Autumn.
The project was unable to locate an extant 'Winter' concerto so Serebrier
was approached. Serebrier based Winterreise on this concerto which
has some rather frenetic slavonic desperation alongside recollections of
Glazunov's Winter movement from his ballet The Seasons. This
is a pretty clamorous score and when it isn't loud it is gloomy as in the
Dies Irae at 5.40 and or licked by Walküre flames as at
6.24.
Two works stand out in this company: Winterreise and the
Fantasia. Both feature compelling invention and I would like to hear
more by this Uruguayan composer/conductor. The recording quality and
documentation is typically of high quality although I regretted the absence
of recording date and venue details (perhaps I missed them?).
Reviewer
Rob Barnett
As for the future at Reference Recordings:-
They have just recorded a program of orchestral music by the American composer
Dominick Argento with Eiji Oue and the Minnesota Orchestra -- all world premieres
-- including "Valentino Dances," which feature an accordion.
At the same sessions, they took down a miscellany of short works including
"Les Preludes" by Liszt, Ravel's "Bolero" and rarities by Klemperer, Jarnefelt,
Deems Taylor and others. Both will be out in the first quarter of 2000.
*
Gonzalo Acosta London PO/composer
