The Tomasi and Schmitt are worth the price of admission
Classic Music Lover | Maryland, USA | 08/07/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Johannes Ernst is a very good saxophone player ... and the Berlin Radio Symphony under conductor Jurowski is also very good. But the most impressive thing about this recording are two works that together represent less than 25 minutes of music ... but are worth it all on their own: The Henri Tomasi Ballade and the Florent Schmitt Legende. Both compositions are far more than concertante works -- with their composers' inventive orchestration and rhapsodic writing, each piece of music is turned into its own special adventure. Placing the Schmitt first on the CD might not have been the best move on the part of the producers, because the listener is emotionally spent at the end of its nine minutes -- the score is that moving! The Tomasi introduces us to a completely different sound-world, incorporating trademark "echt-Tomasi" jazz elements that are highly effective (as always with this composer).
The d'Indy, Debussy and Milhaud works are certainly OK, but not as noteworthy. Besides, you can get the Debussy Rapsodie and Milhaud Scaramouche on any number of other recordings. But by all means get this for the Tomasi and Schmitt -- you won't be disappointed!"
Saxophonists, add this to your library!
O. Angel Negrin | Austintown, OH, USA | 06/30/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First of all, the CD is very very inexpensive.But the most important reason to buy this CD is that it is the only commercially released recording (to my knowledge) of the Schmitt Legende and d'Indy Choral Varie with orchestra. After many times hearing these pieces with piano accompaniment, I was appalled at the beauty of these two pieces in their original form - saxophone solo with orchestra. Oh, the colors!For not being one of the perennial popular choices, the orchestra on this recording plays very well. Together, in tune, never overwhelming the soloist, nice palette of colors (mostly the composer's fault....). The soloist Johannes Ernst was a Londeix student and is one of the top players in Germany right now. The tone is a little thin for my taste, but his violinistic vibrato, intonation (a big concern in saxophone recordings), and phrasing give the listener reassurance that Ernst is a major player in the saxophone world. After all the technical stuff, the most important thing to me is that after his mysterious (Schmitt) and emotional (d'Indy) playing, he can be the picture of playful in the Milhaud. Johannes Ernst is an artist.OANegrin"
