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Old Souls
PENTATONE

Old Souls

$14.99
$19.99 Save 25%

Details

Composer
BEETHOVEN DVORAK KREISLER W
Artist
Schwarzman, Braunstein, Weilerstein
Format
CD
Label
PENTATONE
Released
Sep 27, 2019
Catalog #
PTC5186815
UPC
827949081569

About

Old Souls presents masterworks of Beethoven, Dvorák, Wolf and Kreisler in new arrangements for flute and strings, played by a group of outstanding young musicians. Guy Braunstein’s arrangements display these well-known pieces in a fresh new light, while simultaneously expanding the flute repertoire and showcasing the exceptional possibilities of the instrument, here played by Gili Schwarzman. Braunstein and Schwarzman are joined by violinist Susanna Yoko Henkel, violist Amihai Grosz and cellist Alisa Weilerstein. While the arrangement of Beethoven’s Violin Sonata Op. 23 entails a thorough recomposition of the original, the performances of Dvorák’s “American” String Quartet, Wolf’s “Italian” Serenade and Kreisler’s Syncopation stay closer to the source, with the flute taking up the role originally played by the first violin. The use of the flute creates novel sonic sensations through the way it blends with the strings, and at times gives the pieces a sparkle they did not have before. Guy Braunstein expands his PENTATONE discography, after having already released Tchaikovsky Treasures in 2019. Alisa Weilerstein presented Transfigured Night in 2018 as the first fruit of her exclusive collaboration with PENTATONE.

REVIEW:

The first composition on the disc, Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No.4, is a masterful orchestration for flute and string quartet. Braunstein did not merely assign the notes of the piano part, according to their pitch, to the corresponding instruments, but rewrote it for string quartet. One could be forgiven for assuming that it was an original composition by Beethoven himself.

The performances are energetic and nuanced, models of musical artistry. My favourite moment in the entire CD is the second movement of Dvo?ák’s String Quartet Op.96, which sounds absolutely natural played on the flute. The long, languorous melodic line, as played by Schwarzman, is never rushed and at the same time, never loses energy.

– The Whole Note (CA)

Tracklist 9 tracks

  1. 1 I. Presto 05:50
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Presto
    Duration
    05:50
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Gili Schwarzman, Guy Braunstein, Susanna Yoko Henkel, Amihai Grosz, Alisa Weilerstein
  2. 2 II. Andante scherzoso, più allegretto 06:46
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Andante scherzoso, più allegretto
    Duration
    06:46
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Gili Schwarzman, Guy Braunstein, Susanna Yoko Henkel, Amihai Grosz, Alisa Weilerstein
  3. 3 III. Allegro molto 06:00
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Allegro molto
    Duration
    06:00
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Gili Schwarzman, Guy Braunstein, Susanna Yoko Henkel, Amihai Grosz, Alisa Weilerstein
  4. 4 Serenade in G Major, "Italienische Serenade" (Italian Serenade) (arr. G. Braunstein for flute and string trio) 07:36
    Track
    4
    Title
    Serenade in G Major, "Italienische Serenade" (Italian Serenade) (arr. G. Braunstein for flute and string trio)
    Duration
    07:36
    Composer
    Hugo Wolf
    Performer
    Gili Schwarzman, Guy Braunstein, Amihai Grosz, Alisa Weilerstein
  5. 5 Syncopation (arr. G. Braunstein for flute and string trio) 02:16
    Track
    5
    Title
    Syncopation (arr. G. Braunstein for flute and string trio)
    Duration
    02:16
    Composer
    Fritz Kreisler
    Performer
    Gili Schwarzman, Guy Braunstein, Amihai Grosz, Alisa Weilerstein
  6. 6 I. Allegro ma non troppo 07:06
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Allegro ma non troppo
    Duration
    07:06
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Gili Schwarzman, Guy Braunstein, Amihai Grosz, Alisa Weilerstein
  7. 7 II. Lento 07:21
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. Lento
    Duration
    07:21
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Gili Schwarzman, Guy Braunstein, Amihai Grosz, Alisa Weilerstein
  8. 8 III. Molto vivace 03:57
    Track
    8
    Title
    III. Molto vivace
    Duration
    03:57
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Gili Schwarzman, Guy Braunstein, Amihai Grosz, Alisa Weilerstein
  9. 9 IV. Finale: Vivace ma non troppo 05:25
    Track
    9
    Title
    IV. Finale: Vivace ma non troppo
    Duration
    05:25
    Composer
    Antonín Dvořák
    Performer
    Gili Schwarzman, Guy Braunstein, Amihai Grosz, Alisa Weilerstein