Latest CD releases reviewed
SHOSTAKOVICH: COMPLETE SYMPHONIES
Various Orchestras/Mariss Jansons EMI Classics 365 3002 (10 CDs) ***
Mariss Jansons's Shostakovich symphony cycle was recorded between 1988 and 2005 with eight of the world's top orchestras, including the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh on one side of the Atlantic, and the Vienna, Berlin and St Petersburg Philharmonics on the other. Now, just after the last instalment appeared at full price, EMI has re-coupled the symphonies to fit into a 10-disc set at a sub-Naxos price. Jansons likes his Shostakovich to sound smooth rather than harsh, and he reins in the kind musical vulgarity and brutality which informs the readings of Russian conductors who knew and worked with the composer. It has to be a conscious choice, since Jansons studied with the steely Evgeny Mravinsky, who conducted many Shostakovich premières. The music-making here always commands attention, just sometimes at a lower level of charge than you might expect. www.emiclassics.com Michael Dervan
BACH: SONATAS FOR VIOLA DA GAMBA AND HARPSICHORD
Jonathan Manson (viola da gamba), Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord) Avie AV2093 **
John Butt's detailed notes for this new issue of Bach's Gamba Sonatas praises the works for the unusual connections they forge, particularly their "combination of contrapuntal sophistication with light-hearted, galant gestures". Manson and Pinnock's performances are, however, on the heavy-duty side. This has in part to be due to the recorded balance, which conveys a very nasal gamba tone and a sometimes oppressively close-sounding harpsichord. Perhaps the intention was to guarantee equality of part-playing, but, paradoxically, contrapuntal clarity actually suffers from the cluttered effect of the recording. Even the well-energised fast movements soon become fatiguing on the ear. www.avierecords.com Michael Dervan
LILBURN: AOTEAROA OVERTURE; BIRTHDAY OFFERING; DRYSDALE OVERTURE; FOREST; A SONG OF ISLANDS; FESTIVAL OVERTURE; PROCESSIONAL FANFARE New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/ James Judd Naxos 8.557697 ***
Forest (1936), the earliest work on this CD, won Douglas Lilburn (1915- 2001) a prize in a competition for an orchestral piece presenting "New Zealand cultural and emotional characteristics". But the connection which stands out most clearly to European ears is the music of Sibelius. This is true in spite of the fact that the direct inspiration for these programmatic pieces is all from the southern hemisphere. And, curiously, the shadow of William Walton is clearly felt in the Festival Overture of 1939, although Lilburn's actual teacher during his studies in London was Vaughan Williams. The references are so blatant that the feeling of derivativeness is unavoidable. But the craftsmanship is solid, and Judd and his players deliver this little-known music with conviction. www.naxos.com Michael Dervan
THE GENIUS OF POGORELICH
Ivo Pogorelich (piano), Chicago Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra/Claudio Abbado Deutsche Grammophon 477 6156 (2 CDs) ***
Ivo Pogorelich's elimination from the 1980 Chopin Competition in Warsaw famously caused the resignation of Martha Argerich from the jury and launched the 22-year-old Croatian pianist's international career. This new compilation sets out to revitalise memories of the Pogorelich fever that took hold in the 1980s. The CD booklet folds out into a double-sided poster - pin-up on one side, documentary montage on the other, though without any imagery of the head-shaven Pogorelich of the 21st century. And the playing? Well, it still sounds as idiosyncratic as ever, nothing plain or simple, lots of attitude reflected in every aspect of the music-making, and all handled with technique to spare. Rest assured his character-rich traversal of concertos by Chopin and Tchaikovsky and solo pieces by Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Scarlatti and Ravel (the famous Gaspard de la nuit) will stir you, though not always for the right reasons. www.deutschegrammophon.com Michael Dervan
