Simply Anne-Sophie
is a compilation of Anne-Sophie
Mutter’s favourite recordings with Deutsche
Grammophon. These span a long illustrious
career and collaborations with some
of the greatest orchestras and conductors.
These being pieces, we are told, that
she personally chose, I was expecting
to see more contemporary music, as Mutter
is always very keen to promote modern
music by living composers. This is not
the case; the only one who is still
living is André Previn, who was
once her husband and composed various
pieces especially for her. What we have
here though is an eclectic selection
of mostly popular pieces, each beautiful
in its own different style, and others
slightly less well known but equally
wonderful. This makes the set ideal
for somebody who is not familiar with
Mutter or who is only just getting introduced
to classical music. I would recommend
this CD as a good initiation into the
colourful world of classical music in
general and of the violin in particular.
I believe this is also something the
violinist was trying to achieve. In
the booklet accompanying the CD, she
says that she would like "her
listeners to be moved and emotionally
affected by what she plays and would
also like to help people overcome the
inhibitions they may still feel towards
classical music."
Another interesting
aspect is that Mutter conducts three
of the pieces directly from the violin:
the first movement, Spring, from
Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with
the Trondheim Soloists, the Rondeau,
Allegro from Mozart’s violin concerto
number 3 in G major and the Adagio,
again by Mozart but this time from his
violin concerto number 5 in A major,
both with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
While we cannot see the rapport between
Mutter and the other musicians, we can
sense it in the clarity and purity of
sound, which perfectly cushions and
enhances Mutter’s intense, deeply-felt
renditions.
The other tracks on
the CD while no longer conducted by
the violinist, are delivered with her
usual sensibility. We also hear her
virtuosic, lyrical playing with the
violin often having the quality of a
crystal clear human voice. In spite
of all her unquestionable virtuosity,
she never shows off or attempts to outshine
her accompanists or the various instruments
in the orchestra. Instead she displays
the ability to immersing herself in
the music, knowing exactly where her
violin solos fit into the score as a
whole. She said that she gained this
"bird’s-eye" perspective from
the man who discovered her, Karajan
no less. This is certainly one of Mutter’s
most invaluable qualities and one that
makes her performances genuine and compelling.
This disc is quite
delightful and one to be chosen as a
companion on a rainy, miserable day
when one is feeling depressed and disappointed
with the world in general and life in
particular. All the pieces are uplifting,
luminous and with a positive tone in
one way or another. While Vivaldi and
Mozart will warm your heart, Beethoven
and Massenet may bring you to tears.
The pieces by Kreisler and Previn will
make you dream even if Kreisler’s composition
is supposed to describe suffering caused
by love (Liebesleid). Gershwin
will enchant you and Brahms’ Hungarian
Dance and Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy
will have you on your feet, happily
dancing around even if you do not have
a partner.
Additionally to the
CD, we also have a so-called bonus DVD,
containing a few promotional clips of
works recorded by Mutter. These, though
brief, give you a good insight into
what it means to work with her and how
her live performances are likely to
impact on and move an audience. For
me, the real bonuses are in the second
clip and in the photo gallery.
Clip number two is
of the Rondeau from Mozart’s
violin concerto no. 3. It is played
in full and the film shows Mutter subtly
conducting the Camerata Salzburg, as
well as playing the violin. The camera-work
is good, with some well-chosen close-ups
of the ensemble as well as of Mutter’s
hands and fingers. These help one understand
her virtuosity, particularly if one
has never seen her live in concert or
recital. The final delighted smile at
the Camerata musicians when they finish
reveals the rapport between them and
the sense of achievement.
The photo gallery is
simply lovely to look at. It features
some of the photographs contained in
the CD booklet and cover, as well as
pictures of Mutter and other artists
she has collaborated with. The photos
are stylish, revealing not only the
seriousness with which she takes music
and her art but also the fact that she
has fun and enjoys life. They are displayed
as a slide-show to the immensely beautiful,
compelling sound of Mutter playing Méditation,
the poignant solo from Massenet’s opera
Thaïs.
To conclude, Simply
Anne-Sophie is a lovely anthology
of Mutter’s work, as well as an interesting
snapshot of several of the greatest
composers. It is a sequence of highlights
and therefore extremely pleasurable,
however it may leave some music lovers,
who might prefer the depth and complexity
of listening to a performance of an
entire piece, a little indifferent.
Margarida Mota-Bull
Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin, conductor)
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 00289 477 7166 [64.29]
