The Classics: April 25th

Chopin Project. Olafur Arnalds and Alice Sara Ott. Mercury Classic CD

Award-winning young Icelandic pop/classical musician Arnalds (composer of the score for TV series Broadchurch) loves the piano music of Frederic Chopin, but grew weary of the standardised perfection of recordings of his music.

So he has "recomposed'' some of his piano music and, aided by acclaimed German-Japanese pianist Alice Sara Ott, has used old and unusual pianos coupled with vintage recording techniques to weave in some background noises as an electronic composer.

He has produced an album that is surprisingly gentle and reasonably respectful of the classics (no shocks as in Max Richter's recompositon of Vivaldi).

Five of nine tracks were composed by Chopin, beginning with the Largo from Piano Sonata No.3, others based on some of his nocturnes.

Verdict: Interesting idea, still controversial.

 


Diable Vert. Santiago Canon Valencia (cello), Katherine Austin (piano). Atoll CD

This duo consisting of the cello prodigy from Colombia and New Zealand pianist (their fine recital of sonatas was reviewed earlier in the month) returns with a programme of 14 tracks, mostly lighter in character and perhaps in encore style but still impressive and entertaining.

Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee delivers its sting from the strings in almost a breathless minute, while The Swan of Saint-Saens swims with due grace.

Paganini's Caprice No.24 for violin is translated to the cello and Schumann's Adagio and Allegro is also on the programme.

The title track is Danse du Diable Vert by Gaspar Cassado, Tchaikovsky supplies Pezzo Capriccioso, Humoresque was written by the great Russian cellist Rostropovich.

Prayer by Ernest Bloch is also impressive.

Verdict: Virtuoso cello performance.



 

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