New Noise, Powerplant & The Smith Quartet
Frozen River Flows A fine compendium of classics (Xenakis) and commissioned pieces of stunning variety composed for this enterprising duo, which has gone from strength to strength since we first heard them a decade ago. See fuller details with sound samples at http://www.oboeclassics.com/FrozenRiver.htm The Prokofievs - Three Generations Blackheath Halls, 2003 - - A last word for the youngest Prokofiev, grandson Gabriel Prokofiev, whose very new String Quartet was premiered by the excellent, locally based, up-coming Elysian String Quartet.- - Gabriel Prokofiev came fresh and unprejudiced from working in electro-acoustics, finding a distinctive voice which (to my ears, but not consciously his) built upon some of the original brusqueness and spare textures of Stravinsky's regrettably sole foray with his three, all too brief, pieces. It was arresting music which held attention easily in this august company; Gabriel Prokofiev and the Elysians should continue developing it towards a regular place in their repertoire. Powerplant Import/Export [CD + DVD Nonclassical; 2010] We have followed Joby Burgess and his partner Janey Miller for a decade and now here is a remarkable CD + DVD which is a combined project involving Gabriel Prokofiev, Joby Burgess, video artist Kathy Hinde and a host of their friends. The main tracks explore the percussive and sonic potentials of materials from industry, oil drums, plastic bags, Fanta bottles, wooden palett etc, with truly remarkable results. Kathy Hinde's videos, seen on a large screen with home-cinema sound, are truly exciting and thought provoking; far better than the efforts usually encountered in live concerts. There are also "remixes" for those who are into that... A huge endeavour, realised to perfection and likely to reach a large audience of "non-classical" afficionados, but recommended also to the more adventurous of our reader collectors. Peter Grahame Woolf
The Smith Quartet: Dance Ian Humphries (1st violin) commissions and world premiere recordings on the theme of ‘Dance’.
Signum - SIGCD236 What a refreshing change from all the single-composer CDs and intégrales which over-swell the catalogues! This is careful, imaginative programming. Every piece has a reason for being there, and the sequence makes for absorbing listening which gives hope for the future of the string quartet. You will note that Gabriel Prokofiev appears yet again and that the quartet includes Darragh Morgan, better known to our readers through his partnership with pianist Mary Dullea. All these releases are interlinked and they may sensibly be considered for purchase as a group; you will find much to enjoy and think about. No time for appraisals of separate pieces, but I found none of them redundant and this disc is strongly recommended. Peter Grahame Woolf
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