Stravinsky (1882-1971) - L'Histoire de Soldat : I.Faust(Vn)Ensemble, Dominique Horwitz(Narr: English)+Duo Concertant, Elegy: Melnikov(P) - Import CD

Credits:

Jaget, Coline

Description:

50 years after Stravinsky's death, Isabelle Faust, Queen of the Violin, the latest disc of attention, gathers the gorgeous members who picked up the instruments at the time of "A Soldier's Tale" work! One actor in three languages! A release on an unprecedented scale! Stravinsky recordings by the queen of the violin, Isabelle Faust, are now available. The program includes the introspective unaccompanied work "Elegy," the only work for violin and piano "Duo Concertante," and "A Soldier's Tale. Faust has a tone that brings out the core of any piece, a precision and firmness of structure, intelligence, and a talent for ensemble playing that astounds everyone who performs with him. The CD begins with "Elegy" for solo violin. It was written in 1944 as a memorial to Alphonse Onnoux, a founding member and first violinist of the Belgian Pro Arte string quartet, which specialized in contemporary music. It is an unaccompanied work, a rarity for Stravinsky, with an introspective and austere pathos that draws you into the world spun by Faust's delicate, miniature-like touch. The "Duo Concertante" is performed with his longtime ensemble partner, Melnikov.The work is composed of five pieces of various characters, beginning with the ostinato-like piano and the inorganic violin part in the first piece, followed by the cynical second piece, the introspective and relaxed third piece, the impressive fourth piece with its percussion-like bouncing rhythms, and the tension-filled fifth piece. The ensemble of Faust's straight, ray-like tone and Melnikov's sometimes earth-shattering, sometimes extremely delicate piano are superbly performed. (1/2) King International

Tracklisting:

1.Elegie for solo violin
2.Duo concertant for viiolin and piano~I. Cantilene
3.Duo concertant for viiolin and piano~II. Eglogue I
4.Duo concertant for viiolin and piano~III. Eglogue II
5.Duo concertant for viiolin and piano~IV. Gigue
6.Duo concertant for viiolin and piano~V. Dithyrambe
7.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part I: Marching song
8.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part I: Phew... This Isn't a Bad Sort of Spot
9.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part I: Music to Scene 1. Airs by a Stream
10.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part I: The Devil Appears
11.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part I: Marching Song (reprise)
12.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part I: Hurray! Here We Are!
13.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part I: Music to Scene 2: Pastorale
14.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part I: Ah, You Dirty Cheat! It's You!
15.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part I: Music to Scene 3. Airs by a stream (reprise)
16.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part I: Good to Touch, Good to Feel
17.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Marching Song (reprise)
18.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Now He Comes to Another Land
19.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Royal March
20.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: It Went Off Just as We Thought It Would
21.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Little Concert
22.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Three Dances: 1. Tango
23.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Three Dances: 2. Waltz
24.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Three Dances: 3. Ragtime
25.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Dance of the Devil
26.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Little Chorale
27.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Devil's Song
28.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Great Chorale
29.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Suppose, Suppose We Went There
30.The Soldier's Tale (Histoire du soldat)~Part II: Devil's Triumphal March