Search - Sutherland, Copeland, Melbourne Sym Orch :: Margaret Sutherland: Concertos [Australia]

Slightly interesting music, but no masterpieces

G.D. | Norway | 12/22/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Margaret Sutherland (1897-1984) studied (privately) under Bax, but her music sounds more like Bliss than her erstwhile teacher; most prominently so in the energetic, sinewy Concerto for string orchestra. It is not as good as Bliss's Music for Strings, but is yet probably the best work on the disc. The Concerto Grosso is more neo-classical, while the violin concerto flirts with more modern forms of expression.



Haunted Hills is, despite the title, not Baxian either, but this time it is the late Vaughan Williams who seems to be the closest stylistic point of reference. Overall, the music is interesting, but hardly world-shaking.



Performances are somewhat on the rough side and does not flow as naturally as one might wish for. Sound quality is decent, if a little airless and dry. A worthwhile release, but I don't think my life would have been much different if I had never come across it."