Review: "From Leonarda Productions,
Inc. comes a disc entitled 2 Clarinets &
Piano: Original music from Finland, Malta, Israel and points in between.
The clarinetists are American born Israeli, Eva Wasserman-Margolis, and
Italian Luigi Magistrelli, Professor of Clarinet at the Milan Conservatory
and a well -known name to many I.C.A. members and readers of recording
reviews in this journal. They are joined by pianist Claudia Bracco, an
active performer and faculty member of the Como Conservatory in Italy.
I am hard put to think of another recording which offers a complete disc
of music for two clarinets and piano — and no Mendelssohn Concert
Pieces or Il Convegno in sight. As a matter of fact four of the
eight programmed works are recorded here for the first time, and, except
for the Camilleri piece, I would be surprised to find currently available
recordings of the remaining pieces. In addition to the countries included
in the subtitle above, the points in between include: Germany, Italy,
Latvia, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands.
"The music programmed on this 62- minute disc are two song arrangements
by Pamela Weston of Mendelssohn: Autumn Song, and From the
Hymn of Praise; Cavallini: La Bacana; Lotti Amit-Kalev:
Divertimento; Crusell: Adagio and Rondo; Sarah
Feigin: Fantasia; Charles Camilleri: Divertimento No. 1;
Jaroslav Mastalir: Duo Concertante, Op. 34; and Franz Schweinsberg:
Fantasie Brillante et Originale.
"Ms. Wasserman-Margolis is an active clarinetist with continuing
international appearances, and she is a prominent educator in Israel who
is on the faculty of the Conservatory of Givatayim and Petach Tikva. At
age 23 she was the principal clarinetist of the Haifa Symphony. She serves
as the national chairperson for the I.C.A. in Israel. Regarding this new
disc she says: 'This recording celebrates clarinet music from the late
classic to the modern era, which is in some cases completely unknown.
The recording is meant to glorify the beauty of colors that two clarinets
can exhibit with the piano and its rich accompaniment.' Indeed the clarinet
voices of Mr. Magistrelli and Ms. Wasserman-Margolis do present the listener
with beautiful colors. They make remarkably matched sounds, supple and
delicate, which are immediately appealing to this listener in the two
opening 19th-century pieces presented here –– Mendelssohn
and Cavallini. These works are played with a lightness and suaveness which
seems completely natural and effortless. The Cavallini piece (a premiere
recording) is something of a mini drama which moves in character from
charming, happy, dark and brooding, to triumphant in its 10-minute journey.
Two of the 20th-century pieces, the Amit-Kalev Divertimento and
the Feigin Fantasia, are appealing pieces which exhibit obvious
folk/ethnic elements but also some somewhat more structural complexity
than simple folk dances or songs. The Fantasy is an ABA —codetta
structure which contrasts lyrical melody (A) with haunting folk-like dance
in the middle section.
"A recording review of some Charles Camilleri (b. 1931) pieces appeared
in this journal some years ago. This First Divertimento is in homage to
Manuel de Falla. It is in a straightforward tonal style mostly light in
character, fun to play, quite showy, and well scored. The middle movement
has a haunting chant-like quality which is most effective. The clarinetists
exhibit here sensitive playing with beautiful tones, balance, and pure
intonation. This, as well as many of the pieces presented here, are surefire
recital hits.
"The disc is beautifully recorded,
and the music also beautifully performed by the three artists.
The sound of the disc is quite natural with no post-production processing
evident. In addition to notes (English only) and performers' photos and
bios, publishers are indicated (where applicable) and contact information
indicated for unpublished works –– thank you Leonarda. This
is a lovely recording and an excellent source for some recital repertoire.
The disc is LEONARDA CD LE354, available directly from Web site: <www.leonarda.com>.
Good listening!" James Gillespie, The Clarinet
(International Clarinet Association)
Recording: Recorded by Luigi Magistrelli in
S. Stefano Ticino, Italy, August 12-14, 2003. DDD. Cover
Collage: Eva Wasserman-Margolis Cover Photography:
James Margolis. Graphic Design, Notes: Marnie Hall. Special thanks to
Jindrich Bajgar of the Czech Information Center and Rik Hendriks of the
Nederlands Muziek Instituut. Dedication: The
artists are dedicating this recording to the memory violinist Yona Kampel.
The production staff also wishes to thank Ms. Dilly Patrick for her generous
support to Leonarda. Music Publishers: Mendelssohn
/ Weston: Universal Edition, represented in the USA by European American
Music; Crusell: Modern editions were published by Musica Rara
and Hug & Co.; Amit-Kalev and Feigin: I.M.C. (Israeli
Music Center); Camilleri: Metropolis Music (Belgium). Cavallini,
Mastalir, Schweinsberg: Email < info@leonarda.com> for information.
© 2004, Leonarda Productions, Inc. All rights reserved.
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