This disc couples two
contrasting "Swiss" violin
concertos written less than 20 years
apart in the first half of the 20th
century. Whereas the Vogel is audibly
from the 20th century, if
not exactly avant-garde, the
Suter is a late-romantic work in the
standard three movement format. It could
have been written at least half a century
earlier but this doesn’t really matter
– it is a fine, lyrical work. Originally
written for Fritz Busch, it is far from
being just a virtuoso showpiece. Vogel’s
concerto is the work of a more original
mind, influenced by, but not subservient
to, twelve-tone techniques. After a
first movement with few surprises, at
its heart lies the long lento
second movement which begins with an
extended and nebulous sounding cadenza.
The third movement is marked ‘scherzando’
and there is a brief finale "in
modo Mozart", during which the
overture to The Magic Flute is
given an atonal makeover. This is an
interesting work which is well worth
hearing.
Both these composers
were completely new to me. Vogel was
born in Moscow, went to Germany in the
1920s but was exiled (mostly in Switzerland)
once the Nazis came to power, and finally
became a Swiss citizen in 1954. Scriabin
and Busoni were among his early influences.
The latter provides a link to Suter,
who championed Busoni’s music in concerts
he gave as conductor of the Basel Symphony
Concerts. Other links are suggested
in the amply annotated booklet – one
of Vogel’s pupils was Robert Suter and
his violin concerto was written for
Suzanne Suter-Sapin but their relationships,
if any, with Hermann Suter are not explained.
Bettina Boller gives
convincing performances of both works.
She displays fine technique and communicates
well although there are some slightly
rough edges in the finale of the Suter.
She is well supported by the Lausanne
Chamber Orchestra. The recording is
perfectly acceptable, if not absolutely
out of the top-drawer. I enjoyed this
disc. Both these works deserve to be
better known and this is a very good
introduction to them.
Patrick C Waller
Bettina Boller (violin) 