Sebastian Bohren, Sergei Bolkhovets, Munchener Kammerorchester
Release Date: 26 April 2024
Label: Avie
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 822252266221
Genres: Classical Contemporary Folk
Description
Sebastian Bohren's world-premiere recording of "In Evening Light", the second violin concerto by Peteris Vasks, comes 25 years after the celebrated Latvian composer's first, "Distant Light", one of the most successful, oft-performed and recorded concertos by a living a composer. "In Evening Light" seems certain to follow in its forebearer's footsteps, destined to become another modern classic.
"In Evening Light" - a three-movement, 38-minute work - is beautiful and contemplative, evoking a twilit world immersed in muted colours and permeated with deep shadows and dramatic contrasts. The album ends as it begins, with another atmospheric Vasks work. "Lonely Angel" is an homage to his late mother who lived through practically the whole of the 20th century. The composer explains, "This piece is the vision of an angel flying alone above humankind, filled with grief at how cruel and aggressive we are to each other. Like a guardian angel he touches the earth with his wings and in that way offers us comfort and healing."
Sandwiched in between is the contrasting, classical era Rondo in B minor by Franz Schubert, arranged for violin and strings. Preceding Vasks' works by nearly two centuries, Schubert similarly revels in exploring ambiance and spaciousness.
"Still, Vasks is Vasks – unmistakable in his prayerfulness, his improvisatory fluency, his oscillation between violent lamentation and transcendent contentedness." – Gramophone
"Bohren plays it with an amber-like tone, so clean and pure even it its most stringent of attacas and frenzied incantations. […] there's plenty to enjoy in these exquisite performances and their unusually fine capturing." – Gramophone
"with plangent descending phrases in the orchestra, and the long lines spun by the soloist in a gently swaying triple metre backed by lush string textures, in a firmly tonal language. It's very beautiful" – BBC Music Magazine *****
"Masterly musicianship […]. Bohren proves to be an ideal champion." – The Strad
Tracklisting
Danbi Um; Juho Pohjonen
Christopher Tyler Nickel, Sarah Jackson
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Bruce Wolosoff
Charles Owen
Proteus Ensemble; Stephen Shellard
Benjamin Hochman
Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell
