BROADENING HORIZONS WITH MISS CLARINET
Ferdinand Steiner's new CD - Rare Virtuosity
"Ferdigietto" is the name of a CD containing predominantly music for
"Miss Clarinet", as Brahms called his last instrumental love. There are no
Brahms pieces, however, on the brand new CD of the Mozarteum
Orchestra's solo clarinettist. Ferdinand Steiner has recorded a program of
rare, virtuosic pieces. 75 minutes' worth of listening to the "Ferdi-tracks"
brings the listener great entertainment and an expanded musical horizon.
Who in this country knows the clarinet sonata by the Austrian-born, in-
England-naturalized Joseph Horowitz? He was a little-recognized
composer in exile - perhaps because of his unabashedly tonal, jazzoriented
compositions? This music is unique, stylish and skilfully
formulated. Ferdinand Steiner and the adroit pianist, Fausto Quintaba, are
artists who spark interest in more Joseph Horowitz pieces.
Ferdinand Steiner demonstrates how beautifully the clarinet can sing in
the wonderfully naive arrangements of 'hits' from "Rigoletto" and
"Traviata" written by Verdi contemporaries. In addition, the dry acuity of
Stravinsky's Solo Pieces adds just the right amount of culinary spice to
the mixture. Jean Francaix, on the other hand, was one of the more
playful 20th century composers - saucy and unfettered by any of the 'isms'
of the day - his piece "Tema con variazioni" for clarinet and piano is a
delicate and subtle example of his style. Debussy's rhapsody resounds
colorfully. Andreas Steiner, brother and orchestra colleague, (when will
there be a solo-CD of his available?) guests as an empathetic soloist in
"Blues for Gilbert", a melodic piece for vibraphone by contemporary
composer Mark Glentworth. Michael Weingartmann, the second fine
pianist on the CD, plays two Rachmaninoff pieces with serious intensity.
Last but not least - the title piece "Ferdigietto"-so named by Peter
Wesenauer, the composer of the marvelously swinging arrangement of
the famous "Solfeggietto" by C.P.E. Bach. Insiders also know that the
Steiner brothers, along with double-bass player Ivailo Iordanov, are a 'hot'
jazz team!
www.drehpunktkultur.at
"Ferdigietto" is the name of a CD containing predominantly music for
"Miss Clarinet", as Brahms called his last instrumental love. There are no
Brahms pieces, however, on the brand new CD of the Mozarteum
Orchestra's solo clarinettist. Ferdinand Steiner has recorded a program of
rare, virtuosic pieces. 75 minutes' worth of listening to the "Ferdi-tracks"
brings the listener great entertainment and an expanded musical horizon.
Who in this country knows the clarinet sonata by the Austrian-born, in-
England-naturalized Joseph Horowitz? He was a little-recognized
composer in exile - perhaps because of his unabashedly tonal, jazzoriented
compositions? This music is unique, stylish and skilfully
formulated. Ferdinand Steiner and the adroit pianist, Fausto Quintaba, are
artists who spark interest in more Joseph Horowitz pieces.
Ferdinand Steiner demonstrates how beautifully the clarinet can sing in
the wonderfully naive arrangements of 'hits' from "Rigoletto" and
"Traviata" written by Verdi contemporaries. In addition, the dry acuity of
Stravinsky's Solo Pieces adds just the right amount of culinary spice to
the mixture. Jean Francaix, on the other hand, was one of the more
playful 20th century composers - saucy and unfettered by any of the 'isms'
of the day - his piece "Tema con variazioni" for clarinet and piano is a
delicate and subtle example of his style. Debussy's rhapsody resounds
colorfully. Andreas Steiner, brother and orchestra colleague, (when will
there be a solo-CD of his available?) guests as an empathetic soloist in
"Blues for Gilbert", a melodic piece for vibraphone by contemporary
composer Mark Glentworth. Michael Weingartmann, the second fine
pianist on the CD, plays two Rachmaninoff pieces with serious intensity.
Last but not least - the title piece "Ferdigietto"-so named by Peter
Wesenauer, the composer of the marvelously swinging arrangement of
the famous "Solfeggietto" by C.P.E. Bach. Insiders also know that the
Steiner brothers, along with double-bass player Ivailo Iordanov, are a 'hot'
jazz team!
www.drehpunktkultur.at
steiner - 18. Jan, 21:02