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Stravinsky, Bartók & Martinů: Works for Violin & Orchestra / Zimmermann, Hruša, Bamberg Symphony
BIS

Stravinsky, Bartók & Martinů: Works for Violin & Orchestra / Zimmermann, Hruša, Bamberg Symphony

$21.99

Details

Composer
Bela Bartok, Bohuslav Martinu, Igor Stravinsky
Artist
Frank Peter Zimmermann, Bamberger Symphoniker
Format
SACD
Label
BIS
Released
Jan 12, 2024
Catalog #
BIS-2657
UPC
7318599926575

About

Stravinsky, Bartok and Martinu were established international figures when they wrote these works for violin, travelling across Europe as well as the United States. With the onset of World War Two, all three composers would ultimately emigrate because of their rejection of fascism. In an age of political upheaval and cultural displacement, each of them found an individual approach to reinventing the language of tonal music, laying down roots in the west without abandoning their Eastern European identities. While the Russian-born Stravinsky was experimenting with possibilities of modern violin technique in his concerto, Martinu took these efforts a step further in his Suite concertante by blending the sounds of his native Bohemia with the colours of French neo-classicism. In the Rhapsodies, Bartok turned to the folk music of Hungary and Romania.

Frank Peter Zimmermann, joined here by the Bamberger Symphoniker and its conductor Jakub Hrůša, continues his exploration of the great violin works of the 20th century after his acclaimed recordings of works by Hindemith (BIS-2024), Shostakovich (BIS-2247) as well as Martinu and Bartok (BIS-2457), a recording unanimously acclaimed by the critics, gaining a Diapason d’or and named ‘Concerto Choice’ by BBC Music Magazine, ‘Editor’s Choice’ by Gramophone and one of Classica’s ‘Chocs de l’annee’.

REVIEW:

With Jakub Hrůša and his super-attentive Bamberg orchestra, Frank Peter Zimmermann trumps the self-confident projection of his younger self. Stravinsky’s framing movements seem defter now, particularly the opening Toccata with its chortling bassoons.

-- Gramophone

Their interpretation of Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto becomes an equally sarcastic and seriously elaborated confrontation. Even in the opening Toccata, taken from the baroque form, the notes buzz and chirp like a summer meadow full of birds and insects. In general, the performers give the work a floating lightness that dispels everything earthly. At no point do you notice the technical demands.

In the two arias, too, the participants maintain the intensity and musical pressure. The concluding Capriccio then gives Zimmermann another opportunity to let his violinistic fireworks leap, jump, and shine in an artfully choreographed manner. He knows he is in the best of company with his accompanists, as they also carry the sarcastic aspects of the score as well as demonstrating the ambiguity with pointed articulation.

Bartok’s rhapsodies are constructed in two parts, like a Csárdás, which has a slow and a fast part. Bartok has retained much of the character of the music here, which he borrowed from folk melodies. The performers know how to show this raw side of the music of the people with verve and well-dosed energy.

The first version of the Suite concertante already had a difficult genesis, as Martinů was, to put it casually, lovesick during its composition. The elegiac music of the meditation therefore has a special depth of expression, which Zimmermann and his accompanists shape with deep feeling.

Martinů created the fundamentally new second version of the suite primarily at the request of the soloist Samuel Dushkin. The Aria from this version links up with Stravinsky’s concerto, as does the same original soloist. Many of the elements that characterize Martinů’s works – references to Czech folk music, vitality, changing rhythmic patterns and a mostly traditional harmony that does not exclude harsh dissonances – can also be found in the suite.

Zimmermann also demonstrates his violinistic skills in the suite, which are characterized by elegance and mastery of the instrument, in an engaging and memorable, yet spontaneous manner, so that the suite shines with fresh brilliance and brings Martinů to the trapeze. Hruša and the Bambergers are still to be found at his side and are audibly at ease with the music of their not only geographical neighborhood.

-- Pizzicato

Tracklist 13 tracks

  1. 1 I. Toccata 05:32
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Toccata
    Duration
    05:32
    Composer
    Igor Stravinsky
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša
  2. 2 II. Aria I 04:02
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Aria I
    Duration
    04:02
    Composer
    Igor Stravinsky
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša
  3. 3 III. Aria II 05:23
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Aria II
    Duration
    05:23
    Composer
    Igor Stravinsky
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša
  4. 4 IV. Capriccio 05:54
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Capriccio
    Duration
    05:54
    Composer
    Igor Stravinsky
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša
  5. 5 I. Lassú: Moderato 04:31
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Lassú: Moderato
    Duration
    04:31
    Composer
    Béla Bartók
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša
  6. 6 II. Friss: Allegro moderato 05:37
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Friss: Allegro moderato
    Duration
    05:37
    Composer
    Béla Bartók
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša
  7. 7 I. Lassú: Moderato 04:01
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Lassú: Moderato
    Duration
    04:01
    Composer
    Béla Bartók
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša
  8. 8 II. Friss: Allegretto moderato 05:50
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Friss: Allegretto moderato
    Duration
    05:50
    Composer
    Béla Bartók
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša
  9. 9 I. Toccata: Allegro poco moderato 03:54
    Track
    9
    Title
    I. Toccata: Allegro poco moderato
    Duration
    03:54
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša
  10. 10 II. Aria: Andantino 07:13
    Track
    10
    Title
    II. Aria: Andantino
    Duration
    07:13
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša
  11. 11 III. Scherzo: Allegretto scherzando 04:03
    Track
    11
    Title
    III. Scherzo: Allegretto scherzando
    Duration
    04:03
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša
  12. 12 IV. Rondo: Poco allegro 05:39
    Track
    12
    Title
    IV. Rondo: Poco allegro
    Duration
    05:39
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša
  13. 13 Suite concertante, H. 276 (first version): II. Meditation: Largo 06:08
    Track
    13
    Title
    Suite concertante, H. 276 (first version): II. Meditation: Largo
    Duration
    06:08
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Frank Peter Zimmermann
    Ensemble
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor
    Jakub Hrůša