www.talentrecords.be
Every now and then
along comes a disc of unfamiliar music,
a ‘blind date’, where the initial sense
of apprehension joyously transforms
itself as a breath of fresh air. Enterprising
independent Belgium label Talent Records
have done it again with this recording
of clarinet-led chamber music, from
father and son Pietro and Giovanni Bottesini.
From my experience Talent consistently
provide the listener with fascinating
musical adventures. I have fond memories
from last year of the excellent performances
of Wolf-Ferrari’s Concertos for oboe;
English horn and bassoon, a disc that
I was delighted to select as one of
my 2006 Records of the Year on SACD
DOM 2929 90.
Providing six scores
on this release is the little known
Italian composer Pietro Bottesini (1792-1874)
who evidently was a clarinettist who
performed in orchestras in the Milan
area. Giovanni Bottesini, who is represented
here by a single score, was born in
Crema in 1821. From an early age Giovanni
was taught music by his father Pietro
and found fame as a double-bass virtuoso,
being nicknamed the ‘Paganini of the
double-bass’. A versatile as well as
a talented musician he also played the
cello, conducted and composed. Giovanni
travelled widely becoming an honorary
member of the Philharmonic Society of
New York. The year 1870 was particularly
successful when his opera Vinciguerra
ran for forty performances in Paris
and his comic opera Alì Babà
was staged at the Lyceum Theatre, London.
Giovanni is best remembered today for
conducting the première of Verdi’s
Aïda in Cairo on Christmas
Eve 1871.
Italian instrumental
music of a bel canto style is
fairly sparse in the repertoire, with
the best known composers of the genre
being Donizetti, Rossini, Paganini and
Carulli. In view of this shortfall it
is good to have these additions. However,
I can inform the listener that these
chamber scores, although attractive
are lightweight compositions of the
salon variety.
The opening score is
Pietro Bottesini’s Theme and Variations
for flute, clarinet and string quartet.
In discernible sections this is brisk
and sparkling music evocative of the
atmosphere of village carnivals and
country fairs. Remarkable is the virtuosity
of the playing from exceptionally talented
clarinettist Luigi Magistrelli and flautist
Elena Cecconi.
Pietro Bottesini’s
Divertimento for clarinet and string
quartet in one movement is cast
in several contrasting segments. Playing
almost continuously the writing for
the clarinet is demanding for soloist
Magistrelli with a significant part
too for the violin. I enjoyed the tender
opening section tinged with melancholy
and the brief solo passage for the violin
at 1:38-1:49. Also notable is the section
at 6:02-7:28 containing an upbeat and
vivacious episode for clarinet and then
violin. In the delightful closing section
at 11:47-15:32 the clarinet and violin
alternate in virtuoso display.
The short Aria from
Rossini’s ‘Ciro in Babilonia’
for clarinet and guitar from Pietro
Bottesini is presented here in an arrangement
prepared by Magistrelli from the flute
and guitar original. A soft and gentle
duet, the clarinet has the majority
of the material supported by the guitar.
In truth the Aria from ‘Ciro
in Babilonia’ is a pleasant but
rather unmemorable work.
Giovanni Bottesini’s
contribution to the release is his Gran
Duo for clarinet, double bass and piano.
For this recording to achieve a more
incisive sound the double-bass has been
tuned a tone and a half higher in keeping
with the preference of the composer
for his own double-bass. The score sports
a heavy piano introduction and shares
the material reasonably fairly between
clarinet and double-bass. Played continuously
in two distinct sections a mid-paced
opening switches to lively more upbeat
writing with a brilliant conclusion.
From Pietro Bottesini
the Quartet No. 3 for violin, clarinet,
guitar and cello is full of life
and includes themes likely to have come
from popular operas of the day. Pietro’s
Quartet No. 6 for the same forces
is marked by a lovely slow introduction
to 2:43 when the pace increases to a
brisker tempo. Although strongly featuring
the violin and clarinet the score provides
display opportunities for all four soloists.
I especially enjoyed
the final work on the release Pietro
Bottesini’s Theme and Variations
- a duet for clarinet and piano that
evidently contains a theme from Donizetti’s
opera seria Anna Bolena (1830).
In this technically challenging score
Magistrelli has to navigate many hurdles.
I admired the wonderful clarinet writing,
especially the extended virtuoso passage
at 0:33-1:24. The instrument enjoys
a deserved rest between 4:02-4:35 with
the piano taking centre-stage, although,
sounding rather like a public house
instrument. The cheerful mood changes
at 5:47-6:46 with an affectionate Andante
section, followed by a brilliant
solo clarinet passage at 6:47-7:07.
Ebullient and lively playing chases
the score to a satisfying conclusion.
The playing on this
disc is exceptional throughout, captured
with clarity and body. The gifted Magistrelli,
who appears on all seven works, is quite
outstanding. It is to his credit that
with all three types of clarinet employed
he obtains a consistently lovely golden
tone with especially impressive breath
control.
I must also highlight
the impeccable playing of flutist Elena
Cecconi along with Piermario Murelli’s
marvellous performance on the double-bass.
Fine support too from the members of
the Andriani String Quartet, guitarist
Massimo Laura and pianist Claudia Bracco.
It does feel like splitting hairs to
point out the less appealing timbre
of the keyboard on the final track.
The booklet notes from Luigi Magistrelli
were acceptable.
Not indispensable by
any means but a well performed and recorded
disc of lightweight Italian bel canto
instrumental music. A refreshing
change.
Michael Cookson
for
details
Luigi Magistrelli (clarinet); Elena
Cecconi (flute); Massimo Laura (guitar);
Piermario Murelli (double-bass); Claudia
Bracco (piano); Andriani String Quartet:
(Nicola Mansutti (violin); Cristiano Mamprin
(violin); Claudio Andriani (viola); Alessandro
Andriani (cello)) 
