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Antonio VIVALDI (1678–1741)
Double concerto for 2 guitars in G Major, RV 532 [11.39]
Trio Sonata in C major, RV82 [10.03]
Concerto for guitar in D major, RV 93 [10.10]
Trio Sonata in B minor, RV 85 (orig. in G minor) [9.10]
Concerto for guitar, in C major, RV 425 [8.45] Sylvius Leopold WEISS (1685–1750)
Sonata in A major [11.12]
Peter Katona
(guitar); Zoltan Katona (guitar)
Carducci String Quartet (Michelle Fleming, Matthew Denton
(violins); Eoin Schmidt-Martin (viola); Emma Denton (cello))
Jeroen van Keulen (double-bass)
rec. October 2006, Doopsgezinde Kerk, Deventer, The Netherlands CHANNEL
CLASSICS CCSSA23707 [62.31]
The
Katona twins - Peter and Zoltan Katona - are a Hungarian
guitar duo that has made something of a speciality of music
for two guitars. Previous discs have included arrangements
of music by Handel and Scarlatti, so it comes as no surprise
that this new disc explores Vivaldi’s guitar music. Except,
of course, Vivaldi didn’t write any guitar music; strictly
he wrote a number of pieces for mandolin and lute.
The
balance between solo instrumentalist and accompanying ensemble
must always have been something of a challenge in mandolin
and lute concertos. On this disc, the Katona twins solve
the problem by reducing the accompaniment to one instrument
per part.
In
addition to the double concerto for mandolin and lute, they
play two solo concertos written originally for lute and for
mandolin. In these solo concerti, the second guitarist plays
the continuo part. In all three concertos, the results sound
impressively balanced and relaxed, as if we were listening
to genuine chamber music.
The
Carducci Quartet play in a strong, upfront manner which suits
the pieces; though their rhythms are quite sprung there is
no feeling of them aping period practice. What we get is
well played, intelligently phrased modern style Vivaldi.
The
concerto for two guitars is the only concerto which includes
virtuoso passages for two guitars. The brothers play these
brilliantly and are exceptionally well balanced. In all the
pieces there is a sense of continuity between the two guitarists
as if we were listening to a single player. Though the guitar
is quite a restrained instrument these performances are by
no means understated. The string playing is gutsy and well
matched by the guitarists. Many of the faster movements are
melodically uplifting.
When
transcribing the pieces for guitar, the Katona twins have
experimented with different techniques of playing the arpeggiated
passages. Normally guitar technique for such passages differs
from a mandolin, but here the twins have approximated something
closer to the mandolin technique which probably accounts
for the brightness and liveliness of the guitar passages.
The
concertos are paired with two trio sonatas by Vivaldi. Though
Vivaldi wrote trio sonatas for one or two violins and basso
continuo, he also wrote trio sonatas for lute, violin and
basso continuo. The Katona twins have arranged two of these
for two guitars, the second guitar taking the basso continuo
part.
Vivaldi’s
trio sonatas are more melodic than Bach’s, with a reliance
on texture rather than polyphonic lines. This is emphasised
when the violin and continuo cello are removed so that the
accompanying figures become even more textural. The results
are pleasantly attractive and convince as guitar music.
The
final piece on the disc is a sonata by Sylvius Leopold Weiss,
a member of the Dresdener Hofkapelle and contemporary of
Bach’s. Bach might even have composed his lute suites as
a result of meeting Weiss. Weiss wrote a number of lute duets,
but unfortunately none has survived complete, the second
parts are missing. German lute player Karl-Ernst Schroder
has reconstructed the missing lute parts and the Katona twins
have used his reconstructions as the basis for their guitar
version.
The
resulting piece seems to be highly dependent on a single
melodic line, articulated on one guitar, with accompaniment
from the other. The results are attractive and charming chamber
music for the delight of the participating musicians rather
than grand concert music. But this is an interesting addition
to the concert repertoire for guitars.
The
Katona twins provide a well structured programme with some
fine guitar playing. The disc will not necessarily please
purists, but everyone else can simply enjoy a fine recital.
Robert
Hugill
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