Kremer: Schnittke Violin Concerto No. 2 + Piano Quintet - Philips (DDD)

$

62

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This superb LP – a fine collector’s copy – from Philips (411 107-1, Dutch pressing, silver/red label, DDD stereo) features two stunning performances of Alfred Scnittke’s music, both made when the remarkable composer was still living and both still arguably unsurpassed on record.

 

Their exact program is as follows:

 

Alfred Schnittke: Concerto No. 2 for Violin and Chamber Orchestra

> with violinist Gidon Kremer, double-bassist Christian Sutter, and Heinz Holliger conducting the Basler Sinfonie-Orchester

(rec. circa 1983)

 

Alfred Schnittke: Piano Quintet

> with pianist Elena Bashkirova, first violinist Gidon Kremer, second violinist Kathrin Rabus, violist Gerard Caussé, and cellist Ko Iwasaki

(rec. circa 1983)

 

Wrote the critic A.W. in his review for the December 1984 issue of The Gramophone: “Whether or not history eventually decrees that the Russian composer Alfred Schnittke (b. 1934) is the true heir to Shostakovich, the more recent of the works on this LP, the Piano Quintet (1973-6), displays a capacity for brooding meditation and anguished yet economically designed lament suggesting a strong affinity with the older master. Moreover, it is the least Shostakovich-like quality—the rather blatant oppositions between 'cluster-style' harmony and explicit tonal writing—which is the (east satisfactory aspect of this deeply felt and powerfully built composition. The material as such is not in itself particularly striking, and the Janáek-like opening raises expectations that are not fulfilled, but in its technical control and expressive clarity the Quintet is a considerable advance on the Second Violin Concerto of 1966.

 

“Here the material is much more diffuse, ranging from lyric arioso which never really takes flight to avant-garde 'effects' suggesting a yearning for the Poland of the earlier Penderecki. The resulting collage is not without moments of poignancy and excitement, and the urgent, brightly recorded performance of Gidon Kremer makes Out the best possible case for the piece. But Schrtittke evidently needed to work on a smaller canvas, or to use fewer colours on so large a canvas, in order to achieve the more effective form of personal expression. The actual recording of the Quintet is if anything too bright, the focus too close, the sound too resonant; but the performance is, again, a fine one.”

 

Incidentally, the striking photo of the violin on the front cover was taken by Fernando van Teylingen, while the art design was executed by Top Cover. There are fine liner notes – provided in English, German, and French – by Günther Mayer, as well as by the composer Alfred Schnittke himself.

 

CONDITION:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

 

The condition of the jacket is near-MINT. Really, the flaws are quite minimal. There is a slight wear to the lower edge and a small sticker tear to the rear panel, but that is all. Otherwise, the album appears almost as new – overall, this rates as a fine collector’s copy.  

 

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT and the playback is outstanding – in all, this rates as a superlative collector's copy.

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