COMPOSERS: Field,Harty,Ireland & Leigh
LABELS: EMI
ALBUM TITLE: Collection: Nocturnes
WORKS: Works
PERFORMER: Daniel Adni (piano); English Sinfonia/Neville Dilkes (harpsichord)
CATALOGUE NO: CDM 5 67431 2 ADD Reissue (1971-8)
The best thing in this new compilation of recordings from the Seventies is Walter Leigh’s Concertino of 1936, an effective piece of light Classicism, without irony, nicely played and balanced here. In John Field’s pioneering and sometimes very beautiful Nocturnes, Daniel Adni’s lack of melting grace or songfulness, and his stilted rubato, force you to adjust expectations of human musicality and imagine, instead, you are listening to a mechanical music box. The recording is close and a bit woolly, but acceptable. In orchestrating several of Field’s pieces, Hamilton Harty destroyed their period charm, and the playing here is slack, the recording faded. Adrian Jack
Field, Harty, Ireland & Leigh
The best thing in this new compilation of recordings from the Seventies is Walter Leigh’s Concertino of 1936, an effective piece of light Classicism, without irony, nicely played and balanced here. In John Field’s pioneering and sometimes very beautiful Nocturnes, Daniel Adni’s lack of melting grace or songfulness, and his stilted rubato, force you to adjust expectations of human musicality and imagine, instead, you are listening to a mechanical music box. The recording is close and a bit woolly, but acceptable.
Our rating
4
Published: January 20, 2012 at 1:16 pm