Search - Gilles Cachemaille, Frank [1] Martin, Armin Jordan :: Frank Martin

Fine Martin Pieces & Performances, but get it cheaper

Nicholas A. Deutsch | New York, NY USA | 01/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"PLEASE NOTE: These performances have been reissued, at bargain price, on Warner Classics apex 0927-48687-2, so there's no reason to buy this more expensive pressing.
The 3 works here, 2 for orchestra & one for baritone & orchestra, are among the finest by the great Swiss composer Frank Martin (1890-1974). They all date from the 1940s, when - after many years of hard work - he had finally achieved his highly individual mature style, particularly in matters of harmony. His most famous work, the "Petite Symphonie Concertante" for the unique combination of harp, harpsichord, piano & double string orchestra, remains as fresh & exhilarating as the day it was first performed; the "Concerto for 7 Wind Instruments" never ceases to delight in the ingenious, expressive ways Martin uses his soloists, separately & in various combinations. The "Six Monologues from 'Everyman'" - settings for voice & orchestra of excerpts from Hugo von Hofmannsthal's modern version of the medieval religious drama - is one of the 20th century's most moving song cycles, & has been performed and/or recorded by numerous well-known (bass-)baritones, including Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Heinz Rehfuss (both with Martin), Theo Adam, Jose van Dam, David Wilson-Johnson, Matthias Goerne, Hakan Hagegard & Thomas Quasthoff; there is a searing recent recording of the original piano version by Roman Trekel on Berlin Classics.
These performances are expertly conducted by Armin Jordan, very well-played & recorded; I think they'll hold up well over time. The "Petite Symphonie Concertante" is the pick of the lot - nice to have Christiane Jacottet, who once recorded Martin's Harpsichord Concerto under the composer, as one of the soloists - : shrewdly paced & with exceptionally well-judged recording balance. Some of the solo parts in the Concerto have been played with more assertive sense of character elsewhere, but the teamwork here is just fine, & again Jordan judges the "build" of the piece expertly. He also resists the temptation of equating "spiritual" with "slow" in the Monologues - not all conductors do. My only reservations have to do with baritone Gilles Cachemaille. He certainly sings beautifully & with great sincerity, but (as elsewhere) I find his voice when at "average" volume oddly inexpressive, if pleasant in timbre; as soon as the line rises in pitch & volume the performance comes to life. But if this is not the most emotionally heart-piercing version of the piece, it is still very good. And overall, if you're looking for good modern versions of these 3 works, or are just curious about Martin's music, this is a real bargain - if you buy it on Warner apex!"