Markus Poschner reviews
Offenbach: Maitre Peronilla
Véronique Gens, Antoinette Dennefeld et al, Radio France Choir, Orchestre National de France/Markus Poschner (Bru Zane)
Offenbach’s rarely performed Maître Péronilla brought to life in fizzing performance
‘Markus Poschner encourages the bubbles to rise to the surface in a never-ending stream’
Nils Mönkemeyer explores works for viola by Bruch, Pärt and Walton
Walton’s vibrant Viola Concerto is best heard in his final, pared-down 1961 scoring. That’s the choice of viola player Nils Mönkemeyer and conductor Markus Poschner, whose wonderfully clear account is gilded by the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra’s spangled brass and refined winds. The German virtuoso lavishes affection on the opening Andante commodo, bringing out all its sensuous melancholy in one, long-breathed utterance.