JAVS Fall 2002

97

RECORDING REVIEWS

my awareness of the viola's capabilities, but how? By making me hate the instrument I love so well? This disk is garbage from beginning to end. Listen to it at your own risk! Viola Aotearoa: Martin Lodge: Pacific Rock; Douglas Lilburn: Three Songs for Baritone and Viola; Martin Risely: Duo Capriccio; Leonie Holmes: Recitative 2; Anthony Watson: Sonata for Solo Viola; Anthony Ritchie: Viola Concerto. Timothy Deighton, viola; Paul Whelan, baritone; Martin Risely, violin; Dan C. Armstrong, percus sion; Penn's Woods Festival Orchestra of Penn State University; Grant Cooper, conductor. Atoll ACD 202 Review: About three years ago I received a sim ilar record from violist Patricia Pollett of Australia who was trying to bring the heritage of Australian composers to the attention of the rest of the world. I strongly applauded her motives and her choices. Tim Deighton, a native New Zealander, is trying to do the same with his country's composers. Unfortunately, without going into details, he doesn't succeed as Ms. Pollett did. Except for one composition. The viola concerto of Anthony Ritchie, a work of some 25 minutes, I believe, is a work that has those qualities that could vault it right into the mainstream of today's violists' reper toire. Mr. Deighton, who is an extremely fine vio list, has the qualities that bring the concerto's assets to light. Even though I think the solo viola could have been a little more forward, the live recording has an immediacy that is infectious. I was very impressed with the conductor Grant Cooper and the playing of the orchestra. Milhaud: Sonata No. 1, No. 2; Quatre Visage; Elegie for Pierre; Sonatine for Violin and Viola. Kenneth Martinson, viola; Christopher Taylor, piano; Nicholas Kitchen, violin; Frank Epstein, tympani; Craig McNutt and Robert Schulz, per cussion. Centaur Records CRC 2479 Review: I was first put in contact with Mr. Martinson (by David Dalton) when he was search ing for a recording of Milhaud's second viola con certo with Mr. Primrose recording it. He told me then he was working on a CD of Milhaud's com positions. He sent me this CD to review and from the beginning I thoroughly enjoyed his sensitivity, charm and warmth. He is so at home with these

works that I can find nothing to criticize-tone, technique, or musicianship. At 50 minutes of music I wanted some more. Come on, Kenneth how about the two Milhaud viola concerti? Bravo, bravo. Rolla: 3 Caprizzi per Viola; Duetti Concertanti per Flauto e violino; 3 Duetti per Flauto e Violino. Luigi Bianchi, viola/violin; Mario Carbotta, flute. Dynamic DDD CDS 371 Review: ... The 3 Caprizzi for solo viola was rhapsodic and ruminative . . . Luigi Alberto Bianchi . . . combines beauty of tone, romantic temperament ... it is a charming compilation that violin and viola enthusiasts will likely cherish for its exciting and challenging content.-Barry Brenesal, Fanfare Note: I mentioned the next review in the previ ous journal but Fanfare had two critics critique the same recording. I thought it important enough to include again in this issue. Les Nouveux Musiciens: Roslavets: Sonata No. 1; Ligeti: Sonata for Solo Viola; Takemitsu: A Bird Came Down the Walk; Prokofiev: (Arr. by Borisovski) Romeo et Juliette; 5 Pieces. Lawrence Power: viola; Simon Crawford-Phillips, piano. Harmonia Mundi HMN 911756 Review: This disc is distinguished by its range of repertoire and by its comparatively sound execu tant's imaginative and technically finished perfor mances ... Power, born in 1977 in London, is a fine violist . . . through his choice of repertoire, endeavors to stretch not only the possibilities of his instrument, but our musical perceptions as well. More power to him. -William Zagorski, Fanfare Additional Review: Lawrence Power's playing is fine, his intonation secure and his tone usually well chosen ... It will be interesting to see how (his) recording career goes from here. -Robert Kirzinger, Fanfare (same issue) Schubert: Sonata for Viola (Arpeggione); Beethoven: Romance in G Major; Romance in F Major; Notturno. Patricia McCarty, viola; Martin Amlin, piano. Ashmont 7102 Review: While the disk was playing for the first time, I was making some notes to include in this review. What I wrote was this: "silky smooth;