COMPOSERS: Mompou
LABELS: Hyperion
WORKS: Cants mágics; Charmes; Three variations; Dialogues I & II; Paisajes; Canción y danza 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 & 9; Préludes 1, 5, 6, 7, 9 & 10
PERFORMER: Stephen Hough (piano)
CATALOGUE NO: CDA 66963
It’s a rare thing for an artist’s programme notes to vie in quality with his playing, especially when the artist is as exceptional as Stephen Hough. ‘The music of Mompou,’ he writes, ‘is the music of evaporation. The printed page seems to have faded, as if the barlines, time signatures, key signatures, and even the notes themselves have disappeared over a timeless number of years. There is no development, little counterpoint, no drama nor climaxes; and this simplicity of expression – elusive, evasive and shy – is strangely disarming.’ Quite so. And he continues in that vein. There simply is no better description of this music, nor any more persuasive, imaginative and spiritually attuned performer of it. Fascinating, hypnotic, mystical. Commended. Jeremy Siepmann
Mompou: Cants mágics; Charmes; Three variations; Dialogues I & II; Paisajes; Canción y danza 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 & 9; Préludes 1, 5, 6, 7, 9 & 10
It’s a rare thing for an artist’s programme notes to vie in quality with his playing, especially when the artist is as exceptional as Stephen Hough. ‘The music of Mompou,’ he writes, ‘is the music of evaporation. The printed page seems to have faded, as if the barlines, time signatures, key signatures, and even the notes themselves have disappeared over a timeless number of years. There is no development, little counterpoint, no drama nor climaxes; and this simplicity of expression – elusive, evasive and shy – is strangely disarming.’ Quite so. And he continues in that vein.
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:38 pm