Given the dramatic title Young Hearts on Fire, this programme
presents the work of three child prodigies, and very impressive
it is. Mendelssohn’s ‘String Symphonies’ are more commonly played
by string orchestras, and the rich sound of the Sinfonia
No.10 in B minor as played by the English String Orchestra
under William Boughton in the resonant acoustic in which they
appear for the Nimbus label (NI5142) is fairly typical in its
weight of multiple strings. Ensemble Caméléon’s lighter, chamber-music
sound is highly effective in its clarity, and their judicious
use of vibrato is also a marvellous feature of all of their
performances here. The opening Adagio sets up an emotional
scene reminiscent of late Schubert, and the light pizzicato
of the double bass is highly atmospheric. The Allegro second
movement has plenty of drama, but the lyrical charm of the music
is very much brought to the fore, and the dynamic layering of
melodic line and Mendelssohn’s imaginative accompaniments are
done perfectly.
Less well known than the other works here, Erich Korngold’s
String sextet Op.10 in D major is a highly approachable
work in four movements. Playful moods in the opening Satz
are contrasted with a dark Adagio, which opens with
a Mahlerian major/minor gesture. The two first movements are
substantial at over 10 minutes each, but the final two, a wistful
Intermezzo and virtuosic Finale don’t see this
piece running out of inventive steam. The only other recording
of this work I could come up with as a reference is on the Pan
Classics label (PC10120), played by the Vienna String Sextet.
This ensemble is more emphatically ‘romantic’ and heart-on-sleeve
than Ensemble Caméléon, and their intonation is less reliable,
so I’m glad to stick with this release from Challenge Classics.
I much prefer the Caméléon’s directness of expression, more
literal to the text of the music than literary, affecting what
might be perceived as the mood of the times. They play with
a great deal of deeply felt expression, but allow the subtle
little touches of outside influence and prescient imagination
shine through, setting the brain spinning with associations
both directly felt and barely perceived.
Rossini’s ‘String Sonatas’ are again more often heard through
a full string orchestra, and the sparing, vibrato-free, almost
in the manner of an ‘historically informed’ early music ensemble
opening of the Sonata a quattro No.6 is something of
a shock when placed next to the Korngold, but we are after all
only just into the19th century with this piece, and the Mozartean
influence is most clearly felt here. Ensemble Caméléon clearly
enjoy the ‘retro’ nature of this music, but also revel in Rossini’s
genius for uplifting melody and rollicking sense of good humour.
Even the slower central Andante assai is more ‘up’ than
anything else in its harmonic language and melodic gestures.
This is popular music, and is frequently to be found in sets
of all six sonatas. All perfectly good in their own way, the
Hungarian Virtuosi on Naxos 8.554419 and the New Berlin Chamber
Orchestra on Capriccio C10630 as a pair of examples sound pretty
tubby in comparison with Ensemble Caméléon, as will any full
orchestra against fleet, expertly placed single voices. The
best of the string orchestra versions still include the classic
Decca version with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with
Sir Neville Marriner, but this Ensemble Caméléon recording sounds
anything but thin by comparison, the voicing of the parts all
in proportion, and filled with joyous lightness and air. The
character of the individual players seems to bring this work
in particular to vivid life, heightening the little conversations
between parts and imparting the music with unusual drive and
sparkling energy.
Very nicely recorded, my only complaints with this disc are
that it could have been just a tad longer, and the booklet notes
inform us about the young composers but tell us precious little
about the actual music. Other than those minor quibbles I’ve
enjoyed these pieces hugely in this context.
Dominy Clements
Ensemble Caméléon
