May 2009 - The Wholenote Magazine

which follow are miniature jewels, but to mymind, Laplante saves his best for last withthe magnificent F minor Fantaisie, hailedby many as Chopin’s greatest work. I haveheard many versions over the years, but Ican honestly say this is among the finest Ihave encountered. His treatment is nothingless than sublime, from the ominous openingmarch, to the thrice-heard secondary theme,a veritable love-song. There is a world ofcontrasting moods in this piece, and Laplanteeffortlessly captures them all, thus bringingthis most satisfying disc to a close.Richard HaskellBrahms; Korngold - Violin ConcertosNikolaj Znaider; Wiener Philharmoniker;Valery GergievRCA Red Seal 88697103362The young Danish violinist Nikolaj Znaiderappears in the august company of the mightyVienna Philharmonic in this live recordingfrom December 2006. The notoriously volatileValery Gergiev provides an unusually restrainedinterpretation of the Brahms Concerto, well intune with the beautifully honeyed tone Znaiderdraws from the Guarneri “del Gesu” violin onceowned by Fritz Kreisler and now on loan toZnaider thanks to aDutch foundation.It is a performanceof striking intimacy,long on beautythough a bit short onthe drama that otherartists have foundin this celebratedwork. ThoughZnaider gives it his all, it seems Gergiev’s reticencein such familiar repertoire makes for justanother day at the office as far as the orchestra isconcerned. Gergiev and the Philharmonic seemmuch more engaged in Erich Korngold’s 1945Violin Concerto, a work which is derived inlarge part from the composer’s Hollywood filmscores composed during his decade of exile fromhis native Vienna. Attractively scored and directin expression, it was premiered by Jascha Heifetzin 1947 and though it found little favour inEuropean circles of the time it has never fallenout of the repertoire. All in all, a superb additionto Znaider’s discography.Daniel FoleyMichael Rabin Collection, Volume 2Live PerformancesMichael RabinDOREMI DHR 7951-3Not only violin fans but all music lovers willbe delighted with this set of performances bythe legendary Michael Rabin, a violin virtuosoand fine musician who, in his short life (1936-1972), generated explosive excitement andhad, and still has, one of the most evident cultfollowings in classical music.The three CDs, each of a little over 80minutes duration, are fully loaded with liveperformances, all previously un-issued in anyformat, of concertos, solos and real showpiecesfor violin and orchestra. These were takendown at various stages of Rabin’s meteoric ca-reer, from his precocious teen-age years whenhe was a frequent and popular guest on TheBell Telephone Hour broadcast nationally onthe NBC Network,to the fully mature,seasoned masterdelivering astoundingperformancesof the Brahms,Bruch’s 1st, andProkofiev’s 2ndviolin concertos.We hear also hisearliest known live performances of the Wieniawskifirst concerto, a work that to this dayonly Rabin plays with such finesse. He laterrecorded it for EMI, as authoritatively as ifhe owned it. Both Perlman and Shaham haverecorded the concerto but neither approachesRabin’s supremacy in this repertoire. Alsoincluded in this set are two ‘contemporary’concertos apparently played only by Rabin:those by Richard Mohaupt (German-American1904-1957) heard here with the Philharmonic-Symphony conducted by Mitropoulos (1954)and American Paul Creston’s Concerto no.2,commissioned by Rabin (1962).A 1952 collaboration between the youngRabin and the mature and celebrated ZinoFrancescatti is heard in a scintillating performanceof the first movement of Bach’sDouble Concerto BWV1042, Rabin playingprimo! Six of Paganini’s Solos Caprices(Berlin 1961) are wondrous.Most of the repertoire presented here doesnot exist in Rabin’s commercial discographyor in previously issued live performances. Theinformative and authoritative liner notes werewritten by Doctor Anthony Feinstein, author of“Michael Rabin: America’s Virtuoso Violinist”(Amadeus Press, 2005), the only biography ofthe late musician.It is known that Michael Rabin wished to recordthe Brahms Violin Concerto. This set honoursthat wish with a breathtaking performancefrom 1967 with Rafael Kubelik in Chicago. Thesound is of studio quality as are all the tracksexcept for the Mohaupt and Creston concertoswhich were rescued from contemporary acetates.The set helps to fill significant omissionsin the catalogue.Bruce SurteesNEWMa y 1 – Ju n e 7 2009 w w w .t h e w h o l e n o t e.c o m51CDRELEASEMODERN ANDCONTEMPORARYAnn Southam - Pond LifeChristina Petrowska QuilicoCentrediscs CMCCD 14109(www.musiccentre.ca)This disc features piano music by AnnSoutham, one of Canada’s most important -and most interesting - composers. The titlesof the works on this disc refer to naturalbodies of water, not just ponds but rivers andcreeks as well. So, while the ten movementsof Soundstill capture the calm surface of awindless pond, Noisy River, Fidget Creek,and Commotion Creek ripple and dancealong. But whether these exquisite compositionsare smooth or turbulent on the surface,underneath they teem with life.The distinctiveness of Southam’s soundworld lies in her ability to create a sense ofspace around the notes. A simple motif canemerge from the layers of sound, and, with arhythmic or harmonic twist change the courseof the music. It’s moving, and it encouragescontemplation of what lies beyond thesounds.Most of theseworks were writtenfor Canadianpianist ChristinaPetrowska Quilico,who in 2005 recordedSoutham’sRivers (also onCentrediscs). Hervirtuosic commandof the keyboard brings these works to life.With theatrical flair she balances the fine gradationsin pitch and rhythm to create subtleshifts in mood, from nostalgic contemplationto irrepressible joy.The cover art is lovely. But a reproductionof the painting by Aiko Suzuki which inspiredSoutham to write Spatial View of Pond I andII would also have been meaningful. Therecorded sound is clear yet resonant, helpingto make this disc such a delight.Pamela MarglesTheGallery Playersof NiagaraoboeCAnAdiAnQuARTETSABRAM | HATCH | OESTERLE | ROLFEAVAILABLE AT www.gallery players.ca • CD Baby • iTunes