This remarkably intimate release from Peter Moore is a stunning exhibition of mature artistry.
The eight works (all beautifully accompanied by James Baillieu) are personal favourites; each giving the co-principal trombone of the London Symphony Orchestra, what he calls ‘a real buzz’ when performing. The listener is simply left humming with the serious deliciousness of it all.
Moore’s ability to create a kaleidoscopic sound palette of deep, oily silkiness is stunning - as is his skill to play with such subtle stylistic gradations. In his hands the compositions are merely blank canvases on which to display the rarest levels of expressionism.
Fragile dreaminess
There is a fragile dreaminess to Fauré’s ‘Après un rêve’ and rich, romantic passion in the ‘Andante’ from Rachmaninov’s ‘Cello Sonata in G Minor’. The bombastic, virtuosic flair of Grafe’s ‘Trombone Concerto in B flat major’ and music hall whimsy in Pryor’s ‘Thoughts of Love’ are delivered with a stamp of expertly paced authority and understanding.
In contrast, the sombre aesthetic of Bruch’s ‘Kol Nidrei’ aches with an evocative sense of atonement, whilst Schumann’s ‘Fantasiestucke’ is just that and more - a triptych of poetic romanticism - from tender melancholy to energised frenzy. It is breathlessly elegant.
However, it is with the Brahms that we hear playing of unparalleled beauty – topped, perhaps appropriately enough by Mahler.
Unparalleled beauty
However, it is with the Brahms that we hear playing of unparalleled beauty – topped, perhaps appropriately enough by Mahler.
‘Vier ernste Gesänge’ (Four Serious Songs) draws the most atheistic listener to ponder their own, let alone the composer’s mediation on mortality, whilst ‘Urlicht’ from ‘Des Knaben Wunderhorn’ has an innocent, immersive shimmer of impending resurrection that sends a chill of thoughtful apprehension into the soul of your bones of what may await in another dimension.
There is no uncertainty of doubt here though - just sheer, perceptive artistry - from first note until last.
Iwan Fox
To Purchase: https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/classical/products/8454870--life-force
Play List:
1. Après un rêve op.7 (Gabriel Fauré)
2. Fantasiestücke op.73 (Robert Schumann)
i. Zart und mit Ausdruck
ii. Lebhaft, leicht
iii. Rasch und mit Feuer
3. Cello Sonata in G minor op.19 (Sergai Rachmaninov)
4. Trombone Concerto in B flat major (Friedebald Gräfe)
i. Tempo di Marcia
ii. Theme and two variations
5. Kol Nidrei op.47 (Max Bruch)
6. Vier ernste Gesänge (Johannes Brahms)
i. Denn es gehet dem Menschen
ii. Ich wandte mich und sahe an alle
iii. O Tod, wie bitter bist du
iv. Wenn ich mit Menschenund mit Engelszungen redete
7. Urlicht from Des Knaben Wunderhorn (Gustav Mahler)
8. Thoughts of Love (Arthur Pryor)
