DCD34319-CD

Eastern Reflections: Bartók | Lutosławski | Weinberg | Ligeti

The middle of the twentieth century was a period of tremendous conflict and upheaval throughout the world. Composers responded sometimes directly, sometimes more obliquely to the horrors of fascism, war and state-controlled communism – sometimes with intense seriousness, sometimes with unexpected levity and beauty.

In putting together his programme for this eighth in the series of Delphian’s recordingsreleased in collaboration with YCAT (the Young Classical Artists Trust), Jonathan Leibovitz has brought together works by Eastern European and Soviet composers that draw on the folk-music heritage of their native lands while also bearing witness to powerful currents of history.

Leibovitz’s charm and compelling artistry in this, his debut recording, are matched by the contributions of pianist Joseph Havlat and, in two pieces, violinist Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux.


[1–3] Béla Bartók (1881–1945)     
Contrasts for violin, clarinet and piano (1938)

 

[4]     György Ligeti (1923–2006)   
A bujdosó (from Five Arany Songs; 1952)

arr. for clarinet and piano

 

[5–9] Witold Lutosławski (1913–1994)     
Dance Preludes for clarinet and piano (1955)

 

[10]   György Ligeti                       
Baladă și joc (Ballad and Dance; 1950)

arr. for clarinet and violin

 

[11–13] Mieczysław Weinberg (1919–1996)
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 28 (1945)

 

[14]   Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975)   
Prelude in A flat major, Op. 34 No 17 (1933)

arr. for clarinet and piano                                                                                          

"Leibowitz is a young Israeli who plays Bartók like a distant cousin, full of familiar expressions and family secrets. His account of Contrasts is truly contrasting, giving Bartók’s folk tunes a Chassidic twist, turning Carnegie Hall stiff-collars into a chasseneh-tanz. His partners in this act of subversion are the Australian pianist Joseph Havlat and the French violinist Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux, members of a London musical melting pot ... The other pieces on this captivating album are a pair of early dances by Gyorgy Ligeti, highly charged and naughty-boy erotic, a magical 1945 clarinet sonata by the Polish-Jewish Mieczyslaw Weinberg and a hatful of short pieces by Witold Lutoslawski and Dmitri Shostakovich. Somebody had illicit fun assembling this programme. You’re going to have even more fun dancing to it"

Ludvig-van.com - read the full review here

★ ★ ★ ★

 

Release Date: 23 August 2024
Catalogue No: DCD34319
Total playing time: 56:49

Recorded on 31 October - 2 November 2023 at St Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington

Producer/Engineer: Paul Baxter
24-bit digital editing: Jack Davis

24-bit digital mixing & mastering: Paul Baxter

Piano: Steinway model D, serial no 600443 (2016)
Piano technician: Norman Motion

Cover photograph © Clara Evens

Session photography: foxbrushfilms.com
Design: John Christ
Booklet editor: John Fallas

Delphian Records Ltd – Edinburgh – UK
www.delphianrecords.com

Watch


Jonathan and Joseph play a haunting Ligeti transcription during recording sessions ...

Part of the YCAT series on Delphian

This partnership between Delphian Records and YCAT offers rare new recording opportunities for the most promising young artists, combining YCAT’s mission of developing careers at a world-class level with Delphian’s twenty-year-long reputation for bold, considered programming. The partnership will give the artists a unique experience – from initial concept planning, recording and editing to the final packaged and digital product – and will enhance Delphian and YCAT’s commitments to nurturing artists’ artistic development and long-term careers.

Read more about the partnership and discover the range of releases here

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