Klemmstein/Angulo – Bloch, Milhaud, Prokofjew

While the first two CDs with violist Eberhard Klemmstein (Sempre Viola amb 97917 and Viola Ancora amb 97992) mainly contain shorter pieces in the style of encores, the third CD in this series features two major original compositions and an important arrangement for viola and piano from the 20th century. Although all three works belong to the classical modernist period, they could hardly be more different in style. The cover image (Marc Chagall: The Fiddler) highlights the Jewish roots of the three composers as a common feature.

Ernest Bloch saw it as his personal mission to develop a Jewish musical language based on ancient temple chants. His style also has strong impressionistic traits. Darius Milhaud, perhaps the most versatile of the composers of the Groupe de Six, is essentially a classicist, as his chamber music, especially his string quartets, impressively demonstrate. Sergei Prokofiev owes his great popularity to, among other things, a skilful blend of classical forms, a romantic attitude and their reworking in a new, modern guise.

This diversity is also convincingly demonstrated in the treatment of the viola parts. Bloch exploits the tonal colours and range of the instrument to the full, while Milhaud uses the viola as a normal melodic instrument, similar to his pieces for violin or cello. The Russian violist Wadim Borisowski, in consultation with Prokofiev, succeeded in creating an arrangement of several movements from the orchestral suite ‘Romeo and Juliet’ which, despite being reduced to two instruments, manages to bring out the full grandeur of this music.

The recordings took place at the Reitstadel Neumarkt i.d. Opf. in co-production with BR Klassik.