RECORDING OF THE MONTH RECORDING OF THE MONTH BARGAIN OF THE MONTH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS A London Symphony Oboe Concerto £11 post free World-wide RACHMANINOV Elegy, Preludes, Piano concerto 3 £12 post free World-wide CHAUSSON, DEBUSSY RACHMANINOV TRios 2CDs £16 post free World-wide

BUY NOW  Crotchet   AmazonUK   AmazonUS

Peteris VASKS (b.1946) String Quartet No. 4 (1999) [32. 10] Kronos Quartet. rec. DDD WARNER NONESUCH 7559-79695-2 [32.10]

This is a CD single - an admirable format for its singleness of vision if not always its economy. Similar exemplary ventures have come from NMC and Altarus. The disc also acts as a wondrously complementary accompaniment to the Conifer CD of the first three quartets (75605 51334 2) sporadically still available on Amazon. This scorching yet solace-filled five movement work was commissioned for the Kronos in 2000 and premiered in Paris. After a first movement of ineffable stillness comes the vitriol-blast of the Shostakovichian Toccata (like the acidic scherzo material in the 11th and 12th symphonies). Without drawing breath, this segues into the expressive ruminations of the Chorale. This is succeeded by the return of the breathless abrasion of the Toccata. The Meditation returns to the quietude of the Elegy with tender singing solo lines from the violin. These sing, Tormis-like, the folksong Who were they who sang? That stratospherically-aspiring melody carries some of the burden of the Finzi Introit. If you like that work and indeed Vasks’ own Violin Concerto you will want this piece too. Among the Vasks fingerprints heard in the two outer movements are slaloming violin lines typical of Penderecki's Threnody (though here infinitely gentler) and of Hovhaness's Fra Angelico. Notes are by the composer. In a world fraught with tragedy this meditation on the world's violence and its healingly consolatory songs is not to be missed. Vasks, rather like Urmis Sisask, looks to the heavens and there finds benison and transcendence. Rob Barnett   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 MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage There will be NO VAT Rises [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   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     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

Return to Index

Reviews from previous months Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the discs reviewed. details We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin Board Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to which you refer.