Search - Cui, Sheppard, Shorr :: Kaleidoscope

Charming if a bit inconsequential

Evan Wilson | Cambridge, MA | 08/12/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If asked to name the "Mighty Five," the famous group of 19th century nationalist Russian composers, most people can rattle off the names of Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov and Moussorgsky. Many might also remember the leader of the group, Mily Balikirev. But how many people recall the name of the fifth composer--Cesar Cui?Here we have one of the few CDs dedicated to this footnote of musical history. It provides evidence explaining Cui's obscurity, but also suggests that some re-evaluation ought to be done in his case. Cui was a miniaturist who wrote neither symphonies nor concertos. Instead, he composed character pieces which emphasized melody and harmony over development and counterpoint. Even the sonata on this disc is only a sonata in name only. Moreover, none of the pieces on this disc is distinctly Russian--an odd thing to say considering that Cui was an outspoken supporter of Russian nationalist music. As a result, Cui's music fits into that faded, French genre--salon music--which has been out of fashion since the 1930's. It's sad that few people listen to salon music these days, because they end up missing the charm and endless wealth of melody that Cui (and others) lavished on their miniatures. Many of the brief pieces in Kaleidoscope stand out for their affectionate and touching tunefulness. (The program notes try to make this piece into a psychological self-portrait of the composer, but I don't hear that.) There is a lovely Lettre d'Amour, an Orientale which cribs delightfully from Tchaikovsky's Marche Slave, and a host of other choice tidbits. About the deepest thing you'll hear is an angular Mazurka, but taken in small bites, Kaleidoscope will bring a smile to your face. The sonata continues the tuneful avoidance of deep thoughts, but is brief enough to avoid outstaying its welcome. In fact, it would be a pleasant diversion on a modern recital, where it might relieve the mental fatigue of the listener forced to hear too many "big" statement pieces.Cui knew what he was good at, and it's a shame we don't have more respect for composers who knew their limitations. Rather than bore us with pieces too long for their musical content, he warms the heart if only for a short time. (If you like this, I can also recommend the Cui orchestral suites on Marco Polo which are charming as well.)The performers on this disc seem to relish the music and there are an abundance of affectionate turns of phrase throughout the recital. One word of caution, the sound is a bit odd. The violin sounds as if it was recorded in a different room than the piano. The piano is more forward, while the violin seems recessed and cloaked in a strange echoey acoustic. The violin is never overwhlemed by the piano however. Don't let these cavils stop you, though. If you're interested in some high-quality salon music, this disc will fit the bill."