Search - Bohuslav Martinu, Igor Stravinsky, Arthur Honegger :: Christopher Hogwood Conducts Martinu, Stravinsky, Honegger

"Christopher Hogwood leads near ideal performances of all three items, and they respond well to his crisp, period-instrument-influenced approach...wholly recommendable." (9/9 rating!)-CLASSICS TODAY "a useful compilation of three excellent pieces: some orchestras might give glossier performances, but these are beautifully pointed and incisively characterised. The Stravinsky is a classic, of course, but the other two items, less familiar, are quite at ease in its company. The Martinu is one of the finest of his later chamber-orchestra works, with a particularly eloquent finale; but the delight of the disc is Honegger?s lambently glowing Symphony, one of his most personal and loveable utterances, which Hogwood interprets with patent affection." (****/**** rating!)-BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE "A SLICE OF HISTORY, WELL PREPARED AND PLAYED, WITH A PARTICULARLY FINE STRAVINSKY CONCERTO: The great thing about Paul Sacher? as both patron and conductor? was his willingness to move with the times. As Basel celebrated his 90th birthday in 1996 with a conference devoted to the same topic of the ?classically modern? (Klassizistische Moderne) as this new CD?the first of a series?the composers represented in the main tribute concert were Berio? Birtwistle? Boulez and Carter? whose modernity has little of the ?classical? about it. But things were different in 1947? and this revealing release reproduces the programme of premières which Sacher conducted in January of that year to mark the 20th anniversary of his Basler Kammerorchester (not to be confused with the Kammerorchester Basel? established in 1984). To Honegger?s admirers? the splashes of bright instrumental colour and the jazzy rhythms of his Fourth Symphony are just the most obvious attractions in a work notable for its deft understatement...it?s the shortest work? Stravinsky?s Concerto in D? which I enjoyed most ? a concise study in string sonorities which is texturally transparent and rhythmically alive throughout. Christopher Hogwood?s initial foray into this repertory is well prepared and well played...as a historical document? this is a well­ conceived project which deserves time to settle down? and further CDs of Sacher commissions? rarities and masterworks alike? will be well worth looking out for." ?GRAMOPHONE