Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, William [composer] Walton, Amsterdam Sinfonietta :: Beethoven: String Quartet, Op. 135; Walton: Sonata for Strings [Hybrid SACD]

Stunning!

T. Macfarlane | Fylde Coast, England | 03/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Arrangements of chamber works for larger forces are not new and, as in the case of Barber's famous Adagio, can give a neglected work a new lease of life.



The downside is usually the loss of that sense of intimacy, of eavedropping on a composer's innermost thoughts.



Not so on this recording.



The Amsterdam Sinfonietta consists of 23 string players, and they manage to create a sound almost indistinguishable from the original.



They do so, as the cover note claims, by the fact that each musician "assumes the responsibilities of a solo player", and that is just how it sounds.



I especially enjoyed the inspiring idea of combining the Beethoven Op 135 with William Walton's only quartet.



Both performances are electrifying, and in the case of the Walton they reveal the works parallel with the sound world of the First Symphony.



The Amsterdam Sinfonietta are served by a splendid recording.



Do not hesitate: music making like this does not come along very often.



Six stars please, Amazon."