BENJAMIN FRANKEL
Violin Concerto Op.24 (1951)
Viola Concerto Op.45 (1967)
Serenata Concertante Op.37 (1960)
Ulf Hoelscher, violin - Brett Dean, viola - Stephen Emmerson, piano
- Alan Smith, violin - David Lale, cello -
Queensland Symphony Orchestra - Werner Andreas Albert
CPO 999 422-2
Frankel s Violin Concerto Op.24 was written for the Festival of Britain
in 1951. It is dedicated to Max Rostal who gave the first performance and
who has wholeheartedly championed the work for many years. The Violin Concerto
still belongs to the early period of Frankel s composing life and is
still firmly anchored in the tonal tradition. The work has a somewhat unusual
structure, i.e. in four movements of which the Andante mesto is both the
longest and the weightiest. It is also "the part of the work closest to its
subtitle" (Buxton Orr).
The first movement is a Moderato of a fairly traditional mould that begins
with a long lyrical melody. The melody grows, the pace quickens and the mood
gets more passionate. After a cadenza-like passage the earlier part of the
movement is recalled and leads to a somewhat enigmatic conclusion. The mood
drastically changes and the short second movement breaks in with much violence.
Then the heart of the work: The slow movement is a deeply-felt elegy "in
memory of the
six million" that sometimes reaches passionate heights punctuated by furious
orchestral outbursts. The overall mood however is darkly lyrical.
The fourth movement may at first seem almost casual after what has happened
in the earlier parts of the concerto. "Yet the acceptance of human frailty
implicit in this music rather deepens the compassion of the earlier movements"
(Buxton Orr). Frankel s Violin Concerto is a beautiful, impressive and deeply
sincere work that definitely should be heard more often. I for one have long
been waiting for a new recording of this piece. Here it is at long last in
a magnificent performance by Ulf Hoelscher superbly partnered by the Queensland
Symphony Orchestra and Werner Andreas Albert.
The Viola Concerto Op. 45 was written in 1967 and thus belongs to Frankel
s full maturity when he was more than ever master of his craft. Buxton Orr
observes that for the long and complex first movement Frankel choses to write
in a non-serial way. This movement also opens with a long, beautifully lyrical
melody given by the viola. The tempo quickens in an Allegro moderato in which
episodes sometimes contrast violently. An extensive cadenza leads to the
return of the opening mood until an animated coda brings the movement to
a brilliant conclusion. The following Lento is again primarily a
long elegy momentarily interrupted by violent orchestral outbursts that do
not really succeed in dispelling the lyrical mood of this beautiful movement.
The Viola Concerto ends with a brilliant rondo-like Finale. Frankel s Viola
Concerto is a wonderful work and a substantial addition to the viola repertoire.
This beautiful performance by Brett Dean will hopefully draw other violists
attention to this hitherto much neglected work.
The Serenata Concertante Op. 37 (for piano trio and orchestra) was completed
in 1960. The work originated in a commission from the Rostal-Cassado-Schroeter
trio as a companion piece to Beethoven's Triple Concerto. As implied by the
title this is a somewhat lighter piece than any of the concertos. It is rather
a virtuoso piece cast in the form of a fantasia based on a single twelve-note
row given out at the outset. It brilliantly displays Frankel s orchestral
and instrumental mastery.
Again this is a superb release and possibly the finest so far in this Frankel
cycle that definitely proves one of the greatest achievements of CPO who
deserve all our gratitude for their dedication in carrying out this project.
I would like to end with a short personal note and pay a short sincere tribute
to the late Buxton Orr who was the author of the excellent insert notes,
a dedicated friend of Frankel and a very distinguished composer in his own
right.
© Hubert CULOT
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