Stravinsky / Bach - 7365

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Amazon.com This record represents an interesting combination of styles: two works by Stravinsky, one neo-classical (Duo concertante--1932)and one quasi-baroque (Suite Italienne--1933), based on themes by Pergolesi and taken from his ballet Pulcinella, both for violin and piano. There are also two authentic baroque works: Bach's G-minor Sonata and B-minor Partita for unaccompanied violin. The program alternates the two composers, beginning with the least-accessible work, the Duo, which, with its wildly conflicting textures, cross-rhythms, meters and accents, sometimes sounds as if the performers were playing two different pieces simultaneously. Ferociously difficult, its three fast movements are dissonant, abrasive, and percussive, but the two slow ones are beautiful, sustained outpourings of songful lyricism. In the Suite, Stravinsky seems to be poking fun both at Pergolesi and himself, superimposing his own irregular rhythms and dissonances on the comparatively simple, innocent classical Italian opera melodies, and ending in an avalanche of hammered-out chords. The playing is terrific. Kavakos, a multiple first-prize winner, is a stunning but unobtrusive virtuoso with a gorgeous, variable, intense, expressive tone. He and Nagy, a splendid pianist and empathetic partner, clear all technical hurdles with easy aplomb, and bring out the Duo's dramatic contrasts and the Suite's sly humor and charm. In the Bach, Kavakos goes semi-baroque, tuning his strings a half-step low and playing with sparing vibrato (but perfect intonation and a flawlessly pure tone), clear voice leading, incisive articulation, and often double-dotted rhythm. He arpeggiates all the chords, breaking them upward even if the voice to be sustained lies elsewhere. The Partita is a string of real dances: stately, austere, and brilliantly exuberant, but never excessively fast. In the Sonata, the sound is strangely over-reverberent, which helps sustain the chords, but minimizes the dynamic contrast. The first movement has a free, improvisatory feeling, but is surprisingly restless; the others are admirable. --Edith Eisler Product description Leonidas Kavakos performs Bach's Partita No 1 and Sonata No 1 for violin solo and, with Hungarian Peter Nagy at the piano, plays Stravinsky's Duo concertant and Suite Italienne. The results are breathtaking, and bear out the judgement of the world's press on Kavakos's recent ECM recording (also with Nagy), which combined music of Ravel and Enescu. "Kavakos makes the music howl, shriek, weep or croon, infuses it with humour or passion, takes risks. And he is well on his way to becoming the most famous Greek in the classical world since Callas and Mitropoulos" - The Independent Johann Sebastian Bach's music was a touchstone for Igor Stravinsky for his entire life. He loved the textural clarity, the lucidity and conciseness of Bach's forms and was very strongly influenced by them. The Stravinsky pieces featured here, both from the early 1930s, are two of the most dazzling examples of his Baroque-inspired modern music. Bach is a reference point in both. Stravinsky's Duo Concertant, "a masterpiece in every respect worthy of being measured against Bach" (Hans-Klaus Jungheinrich in the liner notes), opens the programme. The dance stylings of Bach's B Minor Partita lead the way to Stravinsky's light and charming Suite Italienne, and the G Minor Sonata delivers Bach's "musical science" in its most concentrated form. The recital demonstrates splendid dramaturgy - "Electrical sparks are flying fast and furiously between the past and the future". Recorded 2002 Personnel: Leonidas Kavakos - (violin), Peter Nagy - (piano)
ASIN: B00076QG4G
VSKU: COV.B00076QG4G.N
Condition: New