*
banner

CD review: Rather Romantic — Beautiful Memories told by the Euphonium

Duo Giovivo
Featuring: Fabian Bloch and Muriel Zeiter
Genuin Recordings: GEN 22791



Although they wrote some of the most beautiful music in the world, the unpredictable course of romance ran like a rickety old roller-coaster ride for many of the great composers.

Complex and difficult men led complex and difficult love lives: Haydn married a woman who he remarked “didn’t care a fig if her husband was an artist or a cobbler”,  whilst Mozart, Berlioz, Franck, Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Strauss and Puccini amongst others, more than found their match in temperament and tempestuousness in their better halves.  

And whilst Robert and Clara Schumann kept a diary with secret symbols to indicate each time they made love, Alma Mahler kept one about her husband that would have kept libel lawyers busy longer than an entire performance run of his symphonies twice over. 

Billet-doux

Much then to ponder as you listen to this engaging billet-doux recoding from the musical coupling of euphonium star Fabian Bloch and his partner and accompanist Muriel Zeiter – although you suspect their romanticism has a healthy basis of admiration and respect.

And whilst Robert and Clara Schumann kept a diary with secret symbols to indicate each time they made love, Alma Mahler kept one about her husband that would have kept libel lawyers busy longer than an entire performance run of his symphonies twice over. 

‘Rather Romantic’ follows their 2022 release ‘Serendipity’, with 17 neatly arranged works from Bach (who had 13 children with his wife Anna Magdalena) and Beethoven (‘who attempted conquests that Adonis would have found difficult’ according to a contemporary) to Faure (who ‘enjoyed’ his numerous affairs) and Tchaikovsky (whose mysterious demise may have been linked to his own love life).  

Some leave a more lasting romantic impression than others: Schumann’s tenderness sits in contrast to the playfulness of Satie and the nocturnal earthiness of Kalliwoda. Beethoven is simply serious, Bach scholastically perfect. 

Trainspotting

Faure’s ‘Berceuse’  is seemingly written with one eye on another conquest, his ‘Sicilienne’,  occupying the other.  Elsewhere, Kreisler enjoys a furtive night out with his ‘Liebesleid’, although Dvorak (who was more interested in trainspotting than his wife and five children at times) lays out his admirations in ‘Lasst mich allein’ like a lovelorn teenager.  

All this and the spectrum of emotions is completed with the sense of tragic emptiness found floating in Tchaikovsky’s ‘Valse sentimentale’  and the untouchable piety of Donizetti’s ‘Ave Maria’.

It's all performed by Bloch with his rich timbre, and Zeiter with her delicate counterbalance refinement, with an osmotic understanding of its passions – aided greatly by keeping the saccharin levels to a minimum.  

Iwan Fox


To purchase: https://giovivo.ch/en/produkt-kategorie/cd-en/

Play list:

1. Meditation from Thais (Massenet)
2. Ich liebe dich (Beethoven)
3. Je te veux (Satie)

4. Nocturne II-IV Op. 186 (Kalliwoda)

7. Adagio cantabile Op.25 (Beethoven)
8. Widmung Op.25 (Schumann)
9. Schafe konnen sicher weiden BWV 208
10. Berceuse Op. 16 (Faure)

11. Liebesleid (Kreisler)
12. Sicilienne Op. 78 (Faure)
13. Die Lotosblume Op. 25 (Schumann)

14. Lasst mich allein Op. 82 (Dvorak)
15. Der Nussbaum Op.25 (Schumann)
16. Vale sentimentale Op.51 (Tchaikovsky)
17. Ave Maria (Donizetti)

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment

Friday 22 November • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Dobcross Silver Band - Wardle Anderson Brass Band

Sunday 24 November • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane Dobcross OL3 5AD


The Hepworth Band - Christmas Brass & Voices

Saturday 7 December • Thornhill Parish Church, Dewsbury WF120JZ


Longridge Band - Christmas Concert

Saturday 7 December • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HJ


York Railway Institute Band - Voices & Brass Christmas Spectacular

Saturday 14 December • Selby Abbey YO8 4PU


Besses o'th' Barn Band

November 21 • Under the direction of David W Ashworth, we are making every effort to complete the rebuild of this very famous brass band. We require one kit and one tuned percussionists plus one Back Row Cornet to complete our line up for the North West Area Contest.


Goodwick Brass

November 20 • Goodwick Brass is seeking an experienced professional conductor specifically for contests and major concerts. If you're passionate about brass band music and eager to contribute to the success of a dedicated and ambitious band, we'd love to hear from you!


Enderby Concert Band

November 18 • Position Vacant: Enderby Concert Band MD --- . Enderby Concert Band is looking to appoint a musical director to lead us in our love of brass band music. The band was created as a non-competing band in 2008 for all ages with currently around 40 players


Simon Gresswell


Conductor, adjudicator, tutor, tuba specialist


               

 © 2024 4barsrest.com Ltd