NI 5850

Harpsichord Music of Girolamo Frescobaldi Volume 1
Richard Lester, Harpsichord

“For a recital of Frescobaldi's keyboard works to be successful and enjoyable, the music needs to be played for its own sake, and not because Frescobaldi is considered one of the "fathers of Italian music". In approaching the dozen pieces on this first volume in a projected series Richard Lester, of course, puts the music first. At almost an hour and a quarter, the quantity is generous. Everything here have been chosen from three of Frescobaldi's publications, the Primo libro di Toccate e Partite d'intavolatura di cembalo (1615/1616-1637); the Secondo libro di Toccate, Canzone (1627/1637); and the Primo libro di Capricci, Ricercari e Canzoni (1624). This means that there is variety and freshness to the sequence of performances. What's more, by the end of the CD the listener feels a sense of occasion, of having moved through various changes in the composer's musical conception, almost. This is not only because Lester is so expert at conveying the architecture of these pieces (which must address their use of tempi), but also because he embarks upon each one with a sense of adventure, and a conviction that it will have music full of expressiveness and novelty (in the best sense of that word). One is nevertheless aware of the technical skills which the performer possesses – necessary to navigate the intricacies, guidance on the playing of which Frescobaldi actually left in a written preface.

Add to this a warm yet distinct recording acoustic, and a sense that Lester is indeed enjoying every minute – not least because he is so familiar with the music's every turn, as well as an appropriately personal engagement between composer, work and performer – and you have a spirited and decisive interpretation truly to be recommended.

The booklet with this CD contains much useful background… the salient features of Frescobaldi's life, explanations of fingering technique and tuning (mean-tone), interpretative detail and descriptions of the music itself. This is the first of what's to be a series. On the evidence of this release – aside from the caché conferred upon the enterprise by Lester, whose recent Scarlatti complete series has been so favorably received, on Classical Net as elsewhere – the others in the project are to be eagerly awaited.”

Taken from a review by Mark Sealey for Classical Net. For the full review please visit: http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/n/nim05850a.php

NI 5849

The Piano Music of Ernesto Halffter
Martin Jones, Piano

Halffter was universally acknowledged as one of Spain’s leading composers. Sometimes described as ‘a cheerful perfectionist’, he was a painstaking composer drawing on the rich traditions of Spanish folk music already opened up by his great predecessors Granados, Albeniz, Pedrell and Falla, but developing then further in is own way.

NI 5851

The Piano Music of Joaquin Nin
Martin Jones, Piano

Nin was born in Havana in 1878 yet is regarded by many as on of Spain’s most influential composers, pianists and musicologists he studied in Barcelona before moving to Paris to Paris as a pupil of Moszkowski. He was a colourful and controversial character who was in considerable demand as a performer during the 1920’s and 30’s. Nin’s original compositions were influenced by baroque-period work, French impressionism and the more recent strain of Spanish nationalist music, drawing on folk-music popularised by Albeniz, Granados and Falla. His Piano writing gives a vivid idea of his personal playing style: commanding, impeccably crafted and invariably attractive, witty and charming, sometimes creating and atmosphere, sometimes telling a story.

NI 5848

C. P. E. Bach, Cello Concertos
Raphael Wallfisch, Cello
The Scotish Ensemble

Raphael Wallfisch is one of the most celebrated cellists performing on the international stage. At the age of twenty-four he won the Gaspar Cassado International Cello Competition in Florence and has enjoyed a career performing world-wide ever since. Also in demand as a teacher, Wallfisch is currently holding the position of professor of cello at the Zurich Winterthur Konservatorium, Switzerland and at the Royal College of Music in London.

The Scottish Ensemble are a versatile, enterprising and ambitious ensemble of outstanding string players. Performing regularly under Artistic Director, Jonathan Morton this is their first recording for Nimbus.

NI 6113

Niccolo Paganini, 24 Caprices
Arranged for String Quartet by William Zinn
Wihan Quartet

Why arrange music specifically written to explore the capabilities of a single violin for a string quartet? Party for the fun of the challenge, partly to make explicit the implicit harmonies and counterpoints contained within the writing and partly to aid the listener to the wood despite the trees. William Zinn is well known for a host of brilliant arrangements reduces the risk of this performance being a solo high wire act. It is no longer about a single performer showing off, it is about the notes and the music that lies between them.

NI 6117

Prokofiev, Six pieces from Romeo & Juliet
Shostakovich, Preludes, Violin Sonata
Robin Ireland, Viola. Tim Horton, Piano

This CD of Russian music brings together Prokofiev’s extraordinary musical depiction of young romantic love with Shostakovich’s deeply touching musical farewell, written during his final illness. The character of the viola provides a compelling voice for both. Who would have thought that Prokofiev’s huge orchestral score could find such convincing expression in a version for viola and piano? What is lost in orchestral colour is gained through the personal voice of warmth that the viola brings to this much loved music. The piano writing is also superb, and must surely have been influenced by Prokofiev’s own version for solo piano, made in 1937.

Robin Ireland is well known as the violist of the Lindsay String Quartet, with whom he played for more than twenty years. He now plays with the Primrose Piano Quartet, the Anton Stadler trio and as a Duo with pianist Tim Horton.