Description
“For its second disc – generously filled, and rewardingly programmed – string trio Ensemble Epomeo focuses on music composed in Eastern Europe and Russia in the late 20th century, playing with a remarkable intensity and elegant assurance throughout.
The threesome’s Schnittke String Trio bristles with detail – there are finely balanced chords moving from glowing diatonicism to harsh dissonance, and carefully shaped melodies with beautifully expressive vibrato – yet they never lose sight of the work’s broader architecture, nor of its poignant, increasingly bleak mood. Penderecki’s String Trio gives the players the chance to shine individually in vividly dispatched cadenzas – David Yang on viola is lithe and expressive, cellist Kenneth Woods nimble and mischievous, and violinist Diane Pascal forcefully assertive – and there’s a persuasive rhythmic drive to their propulsive closing movement.
They expertly summon vivid sound images for a selection of miniatures from Kurtág’s Signs, Games and Messages, and there’s abundant lyricism in their Weinberg String Trio, not least in Woods’s gracefully phrased opening cello line….Recorded sound..is warm and resonant.”
— The Strad
SUMMARY:
Following their critically acclaimed debut recording of the complete string trios of Hans Gál and Hans Krása, which garnered a Gramophone Editor’s Choice, Ensemble Epomeo turns to music by Eastern European and Russian composers written in the latter half of the 20th century. Each work bears a distinct personal compositional stamp, providing for captivating listening and enlightening contrasts: the Polish Penderecki’s dramatic and lyrical String Trio of 1990 – 91, the Russian compositional giant Schnittke’s String Trio of 1985, the haunting Trio of the increasingly recognised and respected Weinberg from 1950, and the ever-enigmatic Hungarian Kurtág, whose continuously evolving signs, games and messages represent a collection of highly individual miniatures.
TRACKLIST:
Alfred Schnittke (1934 – 98)
String Trio (26.34)
1. I. Moderato (14.25)
2. II. Adagio (12.09)
Mieczieslaw Weinberg (1919 – 96)
String Trio (17.16)
3. I. Allegro con moto (7.14)
4. II. Andante (5.11)
5. III. Moderato assai (4.51)
György Kurtág (b. 1926)
signs, games, and messages (11.37)
6. Virag az ember (1.46)
7. Perpetuum mobile (1.26)
8. Ligatura Y
(2.35)
9. Jelek VI (0.49)
10. Virag – Zsigmondy Denesnek (1.57)
11. Pizzicato-keringo
(1.41)
12. Hommage a J.S.B. (1.23)
Krzysztof Penderecki (b. 1933)
String Trio (14.40)
13. I. Allegro molto (9.26)
14. II. Vivace (5.14)
Total time: 71.21
Recorded 6-10 February 2014 at Bengrove House, Somerset, England
Recording produced, engineered and edited by Simon Fox-Gál
“For its second disc – generously filled, and rewardingly programmed – string trio Ensemble Epomeo focuses on music composed in Eastern Europe and Russia in the late 20th century, playing with a remarkable intensity and elegant assurance throughout…The threesome’s Schnittke String Trio bristles with detail – there are finely balanced chords moving from glowing diatonicism to harsh dissonance, and carefully shaped melodies with beautifully expressive vibrato – yet they never lose sight of the work’s broader architecture, nor of its poignant, increasingly bleak mood. Penderecki’s String Trio gives the players the chance to shine individually in vividly dispatched cadenzas – David Yang on viola is lithe and expressive, cellist Kenneth Woods nimble and mischievous, and violinist Diane Pascal forcefully assertive – and there’s a persuasive rhythmic drive to their propulsive closing movement….They expertly summon vivid sound images for a selection of miniatures from Kurtág’s Signs, Games and Messages, and there’s abundant lyricism in their Weinberg String Trio, not least in Woods’s gracefully phrased opening cello line….Recorded sound..is warm and resonant.” The Strad
“Dissonant gusto brilliantly negotiated by the Ensemble Epomeo” The Independent
“This new release is a really fine collection of works from composers that experienced in varying degrees the turbulent post war years. Ensemble Epomeo provide first rate performances and are given an excellent recording, very detailed. There are excellent booklet notes from the Ensemble’s cellist Kenneth Woods.” The Classical Reviewer
Its highlight is, without a doubt, Alfred Schnittke’s awesome, powerful Trio. I’ve often found Schnittke a frustrating composer: he tends to ramble and embrace dissonance as an end in itself rather than a means to an expressive goal. But in this 1985 score, the music’s tragic power is focused and concentrated. Not a crunching chord is out of place. And there’s plenty of soaring melodic writing, too. In sum, it’s a winner and gets an appropriately fiery performance from Ensemble Epomeo. György Kurtág’s Signs, Games, and Messages also comes across strongly, its richly acerbic harmonic language packing a mighty punch. There are moments when Ensemble Epomeo’s playing sounds downright orchestral – I could have sworn there were more than three players at work at several points in the Kurtág – but is always engaged with the spirit of each piece. Avie’s recorded sound quality is excellent and the album’s substantial liner notes are deeply informative. In short, this is a can’t-miss disc that heralds an ensemble to watch.— Jonathan Blumhofer, The Arts Fuse
– See more at: http://www.avie-records.com/releases/string-trios-by-kurtag-penderecki-schnittke-weinberg/#sthash.kCbBaORv.dpuf
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.