Wednesday 20 January 2010

Lalo - Symphonie Espagnole [Tetzlaff/ Pesek-Czech Philharmonic Orchestra]

Is it a Violin Concerto or not?, or maybe a Violin Symphony?, either way this is one of the most virtuosic pieces in the violin repertoire, full of Spanish flair and exuberance, a mini Opera with the violin as the Singer.

The German Christian Tetzlaff is a fine interpreter, overcoming every hurdle with ease, it's a very 'dancey' concerto, one in which the violinist should have happy fun playing.

I so much enjoyed the middle movement Intermezzo, it sounds so much like a huge guitar strumming, maybe a troubadour singing his song, it wonderfully pulsates with light and dark, fast and slow, on the whole dour, but one of Lalo's best tunes, thoroughly understanding the Spanish idioms he portrays, i love the coda, the music slows/quietens, and the violin and cor anglais have a call and response reminisce of the tune [starting around 5:25], the cor anglais is a perfect foil for the violin, a nostalgic moment of beauty.

Here's a YouTube clip of Leonidas Kovakos playing the third movement Intermezzo, the second and third movements are joined in this clip, so the Intermezzo doesn't start until 4:20.