Brief burst of creativity — Berwald

Press, 16 November 1981, Page 19

Brief burst of creativity — Berwald

Classical records review

ALLAN FRANCIS

FKANZ BERWALD. Orchestral Music. Piano Concerto in D major. Violin Concerto in C minor. Play of the Elves, Serious and Joyful Fancies. World Records WE 3639 from HMV SLSSOI4. Unlike.. Beethoven and other great composers, Franz Berwald wrote all of his orchestral works in the first half of the 1840 s, but not all his works reached the public until much later. Following the first recording from the full set of the composer’s output, this one displays a sweet-toned, but subdued Violin Concerto, one which is most certainly in the second rank of its kind, and again leaning heavily on Brahms for inspiration. Unfortunately Berwald has neither the magnificence of Brahms, nor the stature; his music is too serious without the relief of humour which marks the greatness of Beethoven or Brahms. The Violin Concerto, with its rather ponderous orchestration, is a case in point. On the other hand, the Piano Concerto is an attractive work, with its roots stemming from the German romantic school and is highly listenable. A most un-Beecham like Royal Philharmonic Orchestra lends excellent support. The rather scrappy liner

notes give no credit to the conductor, Ulf Bjorlin, but the record lists Arve Tellefsen as the violinist and Marian Migdal as the solo pianist.

Combined with the two symphonic snippets, the listener is carried to a world of variable quality' with many good moments.

TCHAIKOVSKY. Piano music played by Tatyana Nikolayeva. Nocturne, Humoresque, Valse-Scherzo, March, Impromptu in A flat, Impromptu Caprice, Momento lirico, Six Pieces on a Single Theme op. 21. World Records WE 3640 from United Artists UACL 10012.

Piano music was not Tchaikovsky’s strongest field despite the many delightful miniatures which he felt compelled to produce, in many cases dedicated to such idols as Anton Rubinstein.

In his case it took some 10 years before managing to accept the compliment, and so the Six Pieces on a Single Theme was launched.

There are many plodding moments in the composer’s piano music, offset by delightful touches, in the Mazurka and Scherzo of the latter work and others.

Easily the worst effort is

the March, The Russian volunteer Fleet, which is no more than a thumping absurdity, recognised by Tchaikovsky as being somewhere less than his best, when he wrote to his publishers suggesting they think up a pseudonym for it. However, credit must be given to the Momento lirico, the Nocturne op. 10, the Humoresque (better known today as Stravinsky’s Fairy Kiss), and most of the Six Pieces.

The pianist, Tatyana Nikolayeva, shows great understanding of Tchaikovsky’s intentions, for better or worse, the lyrical quality of her handling of the lighter pieces more than offsets the parts which she cannot do anything with.

GREAT GUITARS, Charlie Byrd, Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis play 10 standards. World Records WX 3769 from Festival L 36171.

Frequently a combination of classical jazz greats fails to use their unique talents to the best advantage, but happily, this is not one of those rabid failures of conflicting ideas and disappointing lack of cohesion.

Apart from the good use of humour, an essential commodity in any field, the group make the most of

musical innovation and maximum inspiration. All three complement each perfectly by adding wave upon wave of fresh ideas in perfect harmony. Wes Montgomery claimed, rightly or otherwise, that he had the crown of single chord innovation in the bag, but by these standards he was literally boring and lifeless. Byrd, Kessel and Ellis are in a different league, their musicianship impeccable.

Antonio Carlos Jobim’s beautiful Amparo gets the handling it deserves, with all three giving it the lyrical quality intended by the composer, while Makin’ Whoopee and Cow Cow Boogie balance things up with tongue in cheek humour.

A tribute to the doyen of guitarists, Django Reinhardt, comes in the shape of Nuages (only 1.56 minutes) another to Goodman, Flying Home and the evergreen, Body and Soul are highlights of an inspired session. If this is Volume 2, I’m indeed sorry I missed the first.