This release contains several rare pieces among the chestnuts. Ravel's Introduction
is well known both in the concert hall and on recordings, the latter including
a composer-led (or -supervised) acoustic set currently available from Music
& Arts. I won't recap the competition here other than to note as well two
current favorites -- a version headed by Ann Mason Stockton (on Testament) and
a dazzling realization that involves Yolanda Kondonassis (on Telarc). The Prazak
Quartet (whose members are violinists Vacláv Remes and Vlastímil
Holek, violist Josef Kluson, and cellist Michal Kanka) performs admirably, and
a fine sense of ensemble is projected throughout, although the reading does
not have quite the incisiveness and intensity that groups more in tune with
French traditions might have conveyed.
Likewise the Debussy Sonata will be familiar to most readers. This is an instrumental
combination that has attracted a host of imitators (including a new piece by
Duke-based composer Stephen Jaffe premiered last season), but for many listeners
the Debussy has never been bettered. There's solid competition from groups including
flutist William Bennett (on Chandos) and John Wummer (on Ambassador), together
with a famous historic rendition featuring Marcel Moyse (on Pearl), but the
present reading is thoroughly acceptable. (It may be of interest to some that
Phelps is principal violist of the New York Philharmonic.)
What sets this CD apart, however, are the remaining pieces. Saint-Saëns's
chamber music seems to be enjoying a mini-renaissance, thanks in part to these
Tucson visitors and to the Miami String Quartet, whose recent CD of the two
quartets (on Conifer) may help prompt a reevaluation of the composer's more
intimate scores. Suk is a known entity, of course, and he and Englichova play
this Fantasy as if their lives depended on it, but other recorded performances
are available, so prospective purchasers may well be swayed by the companion
works in each case if the Saint-Saëns is the main objective. The prolific
Absil (1893-1974) is underrepresented in current catalogs but seems a true soul
mate to the others. (Debost is flute chair at Oberlin.) Tournier (1879-1951)
is underrepresented, too, although Images, which depicts Middle Eastern scenes
and is flavored accordingly, is available in a CBC set that also includes the
Ravel Introduction, among other things.
The Tucson CD stems from live performances in March 1996 (save for the Absil,
recorded the previous year), but the audiences are mostly quiet and applause
does not interrupt the music. It's an attractive addition to the catalog and
will doubtless serve as a fine souvenir for those who attended these stimulating
performances and be welcomed as well by general chamber-music enthusiasts, particularly
those interested in French and Belgian repertoire.
John W. Lambert
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