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BIS

Evening Bells / Roland Pöntinen

$21.99

Details

Composer
BACH, J.S.
Artist
Roland, Pontinen
Format
CD
Label
BIS
Released
Oct 01, 2000
Catalog #
BIS-CD-1164
UPC
7318590011645

About


Here's an imaginative and effective recital of piano music inspired by Christmas images and all manner of bells. The program's centerpiece is Liszt's Weinachtsbaum cycle, whose 12 movements interweave gentle musical portraits and paraphrases of traditional carols. From the frisky Scherzoso and tangy Ungarisch to the sparsely lyrical O Holy Night and Old Provençal Christmas Song, Roland Pöntinen's rich tone and patrician fingerwork perfectly points up the music's wistful sentiments and contrasting moods. Compare, for instance, Pöntinen's swagger in the Polnisch to Leslie Howard's old gray tread, and you'll almost be fooled into thinking that you're hearing a major Liszt work. Two contrasting movements from Messiaen's Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus are lovingly served up with ravishing color and rock-solid rhythmic poise: I hope Pöntinen will record the entire cycle in due course.


For sheer gorgeousness and harmonic allure, you won't easily resist Reger's Mariä Wiegenlied and Busoni's Nuit de Noël. Funny how these two composers are best known for their prickly upholstered large works, yet not many pianists take on their exquisite miniatures. Stefan Pöntinen, the pianist's brother, composed his three-minute Carillon for this recording. It recalls Messiaen's chordal asymmetry, but with leaner, less sensual sonorities. Two Wilhelm Kempff transcriptions of Bach chorale preludes, In dulci jubilo and Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, provide this program's introduction and coda. If you seek a holiday disc appropriate for any day of the year, look no further.
--Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 19 tracks

  1. 1 In dulci jubilo, BWV 608 01:57
    Track
    1
    Title
    In dulci jubilo, BWV 608
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  2. 2 XIII. Noel 04:25
    Track
    2
    Title
    XIII. Noel
    Duration
    04:25
    Composer
    Olivier Messiaen
  3. 3 I. Psallite 02:19
    Track
    3
    Title
    I. Psallite
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  4. 4 II. O heilige Nacht! (O Holy Night!) 05:57
    Track
    4
    Title
    II. O heilige Nacht! (O Holy Night!)
    Duration
    05:57
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  5. 5 III. Die Hirten an der Krippe (The Shepherds at the Manger) 03:37
    Track
    5
    Title
    III. Die Hirten an der Krippe (The Shepherds at the Manger)
    Duration
    03:37
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  6. 6 IV. Adeste fideles 03:25
    Track
    6
    Title
    IV. Adeste fideles
    Duration
    03:25
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  7. 7 V. Scherzoso: Man zundet die Kerzen des Baumes an (Lighting the Tree) 02:06
    Track
    7
    Title
    V. Scherzoso: Man zundet die Kerzen des Baumes an (Lighting the Tree)
    Duration
    02:06
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  8. 8 VI. Carillon (Chimes) 02:02
    Track
    8
    Title
    VI. Carillon (Chimes)
    Duration
    02:02
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  9. 9 VII. Schlummerlied (Berceuse) 03:33
    Track
    9
    Title
    VII. Schlummerlied (Berceuse)
    Duration
    03:33
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  10. 10 VIII. Altes Provenzalisches Weihnachtslied (Old Provencal Chrstimas Song) 01:21
    Track
    10
    Title
    VIII. Altes Provenzalisches Weihnachtslied (Old Provencal Chrstimas Song)
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  11. 11 IX. Abendglocken (Evening Bells) 04:20
    Track
    11
    Title
    IX. Abendglocken (Evening Bells)
    Duration
    04:20
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  12. 12 X. Ehemals (Old Times) 04:06
    Track
    12
    Title
    X. Ehemals (Old Times)
    Duration
    04:06
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  13. 13 XI. Ungarisch (Natale ungharese) 02:18
    Track
    13
    Title
    XI. Ungarisch (Natale ungharese)
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  14. 14 XII. Polnisch (Natale polacco) 07:33
    Track
    14
    Title
    XII. Polnisch (Natale polacco)
    Duration
    07:33
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  15. 15 Carillon 02:52
    Track
    15
    Title
    Carillon
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Roland Pöntinen
  16. 16 Maria Wiegenlied, Op. 76, No. 52 02:07
    Track
    16
    Title
    Maria Wiegenlied, Op. 76, No. 52
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Max Reger
  17. 17 Nuit de Noel 04:00
    Track
    17
    Title
    Nuit de Noel
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Ferruccio Busoni
    Performer
    Roland Pöntinen
  18. 18 XV. Le baiser de L'Enfant-Jesus 11:56
    Track
    18
    Title
    XV. Le baiser de L'Enfant-Jesus
    Duration
    11:56
    Composer
    Olivier Messiaen
  19. 19 Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 04:39
    Track
    19
    Title
    Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659
    Duration
    04:39
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach