La Mer bleue
This album is built around Messiaen, birdsong and impressionism. First we have book 1 of Messiaen’s Catalogue d’oiseaux, together with two newly written interludes and a postlude for two violins, transferring the song to the strings. Messiaen’s work is a journey towards sunlight, colour and company, from mountain to coastline, together with three feathered songsters.
English composer David Gorton is best known for his uncompromising modernity but in his Ondine, he has produced a work much more accessible and although not specifically based on birdsong, it has many resonances with the Messiaen, and is an ideal partner to the earlier work; this is its first recording.
With Szymanowski we reach the mainstream of 20th century writing, Romanticism hardening in light of the Great War and the October Revolution. This work, one of his greatest, is imbued with passion, longing, and in the words of Sorabji, ”an elevated ecstasy of expression”.
Roderick Chadwick, as both soloist and collaborator, has performed some of the most challenging works for piano; his recent Stockhausen disc was highly praised. He is a particular expert on Messiaen and in 2018 co-authored and published a book on the Catalogue d’oiseaux.
Track Listing
- Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992):
- Catalogue d'oiseaux, book 1 - I. Le Chocard des Alpes (10:06)
- Catalogue d'oiseaux, book 1 - II. Le Loriot (8:08)
- [ interlude for violins - Song Thrush and Thekla Lark ] (2:41)
- Catalogue d'oiseaux, book 1 - III. Le merle bleu (13:51)
- [ interlude for violins - Golden Oriole and Garden Warbler ] (1:56) David Gorton (b.1978):
- Ondine (8:14) Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937):
- Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 36- I. Presto - (7:22)
- Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 36- II. Adagio, mesto - (4:21)
- Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 36- III. Assai vivace, scherzando (1:07)
- Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 36- IV. Fuga: Allegro moderato, scherzando e buffo (6:21)
- [ postlude for violins ] (1:17)
Reviews
“An impressive [solo] debut, one that plays to his considerable strengths, both technical and interpretive. {He has} sharp architectural insight, building inexorably and offering a real sense of arrival at the climaxes. He’s also got a keen sense of the shifting character (or characters) of the music. The sound is excellent. All in all, an impressive release.
” —Peter J. Rabinowitz
“A hugely attractive CD. Roderick Chadwick is the ideal interpreter of this magical and unique sound world.
” —Stuart Millson
“The juxtaposition between clangorous bird song and lyrical moments is startling, especially in the probing performance here by pianist Roderick Chad¬wick. Chadwick ripples and splashes his way through with precision and color
” —Jack Sullivan
“An interesting and substantial album… technically impressive.
” —Jeremy Condliffe
“Roderick Chadwick takes listeners on a journey to and beyond Messiaen’s Catalogue d’oiseaux, Book 1, which he plays with considerable panache; Chadwick plays the {Szymanowski} sonata with strength and understanding. An interesting intellectual exercise with some very high-quality playing.
” —Mark J. Estren
“The excellent Roderick Chadwick [plays] delightful pieces.. the Szymanowski is imbued with passion and longing.
” —John Pitt
“The performance here is ideal. The liner notes by the pianist are excellent. All in all, this is a superb album: three exceptional works skilfully played… a perfect recital.
” —John France
“Chadwick takes an unusual approach to Messiaen’s music, more angular and “wide-awake” and less softly impressionistic, but this is an approach that I liked very much, as it brings out the structure in the works. Gorton’s Ondine is a fascinating work, an early piece by this composer and very interesting. Chadwick’s performance of the Szymanowski Piano Sonata No. 3 is absolutely superb. A good album, then, well worth exploring.
” —Lynn Bayley
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