This is the second
volume of works by Matthew Curtis in
Campion Cameo’s British Composer Series
[Volume
1]. These are rather glitzy,
light and even frivolous works in the
light music vein. The performances,
given appropriately enough by the Royal
Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland,
are good, though, like the pieces themselves,
fairly showy and flashy – brilliant,
but slightly superficial.
The disc opens with
the jolly Ring in the New, followed
by an Elgarian Romanza, which
contains some nice harmonies, rich and
lustrous, as well as pleasantly prominent
woodwind and brass. The ensuing Little
Dance Suite opens with a Valse –
bright and fun, then moves on to a high-spirited
and brief Fandango, a beautifully lyrical
Sarabande, a Bolero and Humoresque (hinting
at the tune of My grandfather’s Clock,
yet lacking any sense of accompanying
poignancy) before concluding in similarly
frolicsome style with a Tarantella.
The unquestionably
Irish Irish Lullaby, with its
gorgeous flute solo, is a more soulful
work, and comes as a slight relief to
the empty dizziness of the previous
pieces. We head immediately back to
the traditional Light Music sounds,
however, with the next piece, Graduation
Day.
Autumn Song
was, for me, the most rewarding work
on the disc. Gentle, lyrical and romantic,
with overtones of nostalgia and poignancy,
it grows to a slightly Elgarian and
impassioned climax, before returning
to a serene and dreamy conclusion.
The pleasantly light
and jolly Sinfonietta precedes
the final work, Bon Voyage, which
concludes the disc with an aptly festive
and jocund note.
On the whole, I found
this disc a little too much like pastiche.
The more "serious" music is
rather filmy, and the rest very much
conventional Light Music. Although colourfully
orchestrated, with some lovely harmonies
and excellent instrumental writing,
these pieces were too flippant and frivolous
for my personal taste, rather lacking
in feeling and substance – a deficiency
reflected by the performance. On the
other hand, however, it is wonderful
to encounter a contemporary composer
writing tuneful works that are actually
pleasant to the ear.
On the whole, this
disc is an agreeable listen, full of
charming and genial music, but is fairly
easy and lightweight. It is more likely
to appeal to lovers of Light Music than
serious classical music buffs.
Em Marshall
Helen Keen (flute); Helen Kamminga (harp);
Mike Allen, trumpet; Ian Scott, flute 
