Music-making by piano duettists,
four hands at one piano, has a long history. Many works we think
of as orchestral started out as piano duets. This is reflected
on this CD: Grieg’s Norwegian Dances, Bizet’s Jeux
d’Enfants, Schubert’s Marche Militaire, Fauré’s Dolly
Suite and Dvořák’s Legends. Sometimes the process
works in the opposite direction, as here with Anitra’s Dance
and Leroy Anderson’s Fiddle Faddle, though these performers
do not, despite their obvious enjoyment in playing it, quite
convince me that the latter is not preferable in its original
string orchestral mode.
Rachel and Vanessa Fuidge
are twins and, at the time of writing, seventeen years of age
and living in Glossop, Derbyshire. They have behind them many
successes in music festivals and a not inconsiderable concert
experience. Their playing, if not quite note perfect, has accomplishment,
enterprise and a charming freshness. They are excellent musicians
and have a wide taste in repertoire. Some might feel it a disadvantage
that their programme seems a trifle “bitty” – just one Norwegian
Dance, one movement from Jeux d’Enfants, one Dvořák
Legend and so on – but to me it suggests a desire
to play as wide a range of music as possible. And there are
plenty of pieces which are relatively, even almost entirely,
unfamiliar to audiences. Philip Lane’s Mouvement
Perpetuel, one of his four Badinages, was a tribute
to Lord Berners and is suitably whimsical. Casella’s “five easy
pieces” Pupazetti (Puppets) have their astringencies,
to be sure, but they are rhythmic and atmospheric. Adolf Jensen’s
Wedding Procession is rousing stuff and although Jensen
was a Dane, sounds in places almost English. Also it is good
to have on disc Rachmaninov’s two movements (from the Six
Morceaux, Opus 11), especially the doleful Thčme Russe,
and the Paganiana by the Maltese composer Charles Camilleri,
one of the latest, and probably the most concise, attempts –
of many by a variety of composers – at varying that celebrated
Paganini violin Caprice. There’s a lollipop to finish, the Duo
Tango by the Italian Paolo di Biase (born 1942) but very
Spanish in feel.
The recording, made at
Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, where the
twins study at weekends, is very clear and natural. I have the
greatest pleasure in recommending this disc as an introduction
to the wide range, both familiar and less familiar, of the piano
duet repertoire.
Philip L. Scowcroft
Ian Milnes has also reviewed this disc:
This is one of the
most enjoyable CDs I’ve ever heard. Seventeen-year-old twins,
Rachel and Vanessa Fuidge present a pleasantly varied programme
that shows off their many fine qualities. And there is humour,
too!
The order of the items
is well chosen to add to the listening enjoyment, with the first
movement of Philip Lane’s Badinages making
a brilliant, lively start. The performers bring out all the
humour in it and the adroit performance caused me much merriment!
Then comes a lovely contrast in the two Grieg pieces in which
much attention is paid to the detail, especially in the rhythms,
so well in evidence. More contrasts are heard both in Jensen’s
Wedding procession and especially the Thčme Russe
of Rachmaninov (the longest piece on the CD at 5 minutes 22
seconds), where the sombre atmosphere is well sustained, with
real power generated in the climax section. In the Valse
that follows, Rachel and Vanessa display some effective rubato.
Casella’s delightful puppet portraits are played with great
attention to the contrasts between them, and the humour associated
with the playful nature of puppets is well pointed. The traditional
composers are not overlooked and the performances of the well-known
pieces by Bizet, Schubert, Fauré and Saint-Saëns all have a
splendid freshness. Outstanding is “Le Cygne” with some lovely
dynamics in the melody and the surrounding figurations. Then
follows an hilarious interpretation of the “Final”. It’s good
to hear a different set of variations on Paganini’s famous theme
– here by Charles Camilleri – especially in such a virtuosic
performance! Dvořák’s Legend No. 6 is played most imaginatively,
while the CD ends with two really catchy pieces, one by Leroy
Anderson – the rests in the middle section adding to the fun!
– and the other by di Biase, the delicate ending of which is
handled superbly by Rachel and Vanessa.
The twins have an excellent
technique and a lively musicality that enables them to give
superb interpretations. They are so well in control that the
whole exercise sounds fun, and this communicates itself to the
listener, resulting in a wonderfully enjoyable experience. The
girls have written the booklet notes on each of the pieces in
a clear, concise style and a short career profile is also included.
The cover photograph is outstandingly good.
I know of the work done
by Jim Pattison of Dunelm Records to promote young musical talent
through the medium of sound recordings. He seems to have the
ability of putting performers at their ease at the sessions
so that they enjoy the experience. This CD is another fine example
of this practice.
Throughout, Rachel and Vanessa – helped by a superb recording
– bring out the clarity of the many varied textures really well.
The session was held on April
5th, 2005
in the Whiteley Hall, Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester, by kind permission
of the Director of Music, and ably produced by Miss Susan Bettaney,
a teaching member of staff of the Keyboard Department. An outstanding
CD, full of joy! Very highly recommended.
Ian Milnes
Rachel and Vanessa
Fuidge (four hands on one piano)
