HENZE Violin Concerto No 2
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Hans Werner Henze
Genre:
Orchestral
Label: Naxos
Magazine Review Date: 07
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 68
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 8 573289
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Il Vitalino raddoppiato |
Hans Werner Henze, Composer
Hans Werner Henze, Composer Longbow Peter Sheppard Skaerved, Conductor, Violin |
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 |
Hans Werner Henze, Composer
Hans Werner Henze, Composer Hans Werner Henze, Composer Omar Ebrahim, Speaker Parnassus Ensemble Peter Sheppard Skaerved, Violin |
Author: Guy Rickards
On paper, the Second Concerto’s curious form (commented on before in these pages; see the comparative reviews listed below) sounds like 1970s agitprop. The soloist – dressed as Baron Munchhausen, replete with cape and feathered hat – arrives so late (again Skærved has a funny story about that!) that orchestra, with narrator, start without him; and by the unaccompanied close he has at points functioned as second narrator and purloined the conductor’s baton. What is remarkable is that in this 1991 performance, expertly remastered, the work comes alive in a way neither rival account manages, even that by Langbein, who premiered it. Henze’s expert direction melds the disparate threads such that they flow with utmost logic. Where some composers wear polystylism as a cloak – or mask – with Henze it comes from within as a natural response to the musical challenges encountered.
Through it all, Skærved weaves his haunting presence as primus inter pares in what can be heard as expanded chamber music. A superb disc; I must now explore his earlier disc of Nos 1 and 3 (12/06). Highly recommended.
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.
Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
SubscribeGramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.