The Golden Age of Hollywood: Concert Works for Violin and Piano
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Genre:
Chamber
Label: Quartz
Magazine Review Date: 06/2024
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 63
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: QTZ2156
![QTZ2156. The Golden Age of Hollywood: Concert Works for Violin and Piano](https://reviews.azureedge.net/gramophone/media-thumbnails/QTZ2156.jpg)
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Much ado about Nothing |
Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Composer
Martin Cousin, Piano Patrick Savage, Violin |
Four Scenes from Childhood |
Franz Waxman, Composer
Martin Cousin, Piano Patrick Savage, Violin |
Hexapoda |
Robert Russell Bennett, Composer
Martin Cousin, Piano Patrick Savage, Violin |
Sonatina for Violin and Piano |
Heinz Roemheld, Composer
Martin Cousin, Piano Patrick Savage, Violin |
Recitative and Aria for Violin and Piano |
Jerome Moross, Composer
Martin Cousin, Piano Patrick Savage, Violin |
Pastoral (Twilight) |
Bernard Herrmann, Composer
Martin Cousin, Piano Patrick Savage, Violin |
Variations on a Hungarian Peasant Song |
Miklós Rózsa, Composer
Martin Cousin, Piano Patrick Savage, Violin |
Author: Richard Bratby
‘The Golden Age of Hollywood’: it’s an attractive idea for a recital, made even more interesting by the fact that none of the works here – which include three premiere recordings – are transcriptions from film scores (the Korngold is derived from a theatrical score, but we won’t count that). They’re all original concert works by composers who at some point worked in the movies. Purists might object that the Korngold, Rózsa and Herrmann pieces predate their Hollywood careers but again, when the music is as striking as this, we can let that pass.
And it really is fascinating, ranging from the familiar (Korngold) to the unexpected – a spiky jazz-inspired suite by Robert Russell Bennett, clearly taking time off from his orchestration business – to the unknown: the bracing Sonatina by Milwaukee-born Heinz Roemheld, whose central movement is marked senza vibrato and is played as such by Patrick Savage, to haunting, plaintive effect. Dismiss any idea of these composers as swooning romantics: there’s plenty of bite and swing in these pieces, and indeed in the performances.
But there are also portamentos and lashings of throaty G-string tone. Savage has an engaging way of leaning into a melody, and Martin Cousin is an alert and often poetic partner. There’s earthy vigour in the Rózsa and some serious virtuosity in the Moross – the single most ‘Hollywood’ piece here, with its muscular piano vamp and big-sky melody. The spirit of Heifetz hovers over the whole disc (the Waxman was actually written for him) and there are moments where a little more tonal glamour and daring might really have made these discoveries sparkle. But there’s plenty of treasure here regardless.
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