Yet another classic re-issue, but deserving of 'award’

Press, 27 January 1986, Page 18

Yet another classic re-issue, but deserving of 'award’

Classical records review

ALLAN FRANCIS

BRAHMS. Clarinet Quintet In B minor Op. Tl 5 played by Karl Leister, clarinet with the Vermeer Quartet. ARGUS CASSETTE AWC 8126. BEETHOVEN. Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major Op. 15 and Choral Fantasia in C minor played by Julius Katchen piano with the LSO conducted by Plerino Gamba. ARGUS CASSETTE AWC 8054. VARIOUS. Organ Concertos by various composers played by Douglas Haas, organ and Helmuth Rilling with the Wurttemberg Chamber Orchestra. ARGUS CASSETTE AWC 8006.

Yet another company is coming into calculations with re-issues of standard classics. This one has the imposing title of “Award” and indeed it justifies many of its own assertions.

To be strictly accurate, this material lies somewhere between the "Maestro Masters” label and the impressive “DG Walkman, series recently reviewed. At the outset, one must plump for the latter as being the best all-round effort to date — artistically and technically, but other points should be considered. First, it is essential to check if one’s tape recording equipment is capable of reproducing chrome dioxide cassettes. If not, then a good deal of the upper edge of quality is lost. Both the “Award” and “Walkman” series are chrome dioxide tapes and this benefit is immediately obvious. It is only recently that chrome dioxide tapes have made any impact of this size on the market and their comparison with LP quality is of paramount importance. Getting to the performances themselves, one is Immediately struck by the presence of Julius Katchen playing Beethoven’s "Piano Concerto No 1” and there is little to disappoint listeners here. The soloist’s fluid style is appreciably lifted by the spacious sound quality, although the orchestra has that thick, tubby quality that marked performances from the 1950 s (and before).

The piano sound is remarkably clear by comparison; well forward and full of the characteristic spirit for which Julius Katchen was renowned.

The presence of “Choral Fantasia”

a fair programme, although breaks no records for length of playing time. Rival soloist, Daniel Barenboim from the 1960 has an appreciably longer programme.

The Brahms “Quintet in B minor” on the other hand is quite skimpy with playing time. Normally there is quite a handsome filler, with all four versions in the catalogue sporting something substantial. Not so with this tape, where four movements are spread over two sides.

Again, the performance is first rate, with a splendid Autumnal flavour to the work. This is, of course, lightweight Brahms, but it is beguiling and attractively played by the Vermeer Quartet and Karl Leister.

The final tape is a mixed bag of organ pieces shared by two organists Douglas Haas and Helmuth Rilling. The programme stretches from the rarely known Michel Corrette “Concerto in D minor” to the over-ex-posed Albinoni “Adagio.” The programme opens with one of Mozart’s

"Epistle” Sonatas — No. 4 in D K 144, in fine spirited fashioned style from the organist and the Wurttemberg players. The Albinoni piece now is so overworked that it hardly bears additional comment.

Perhaps the most interesting piece is the Bach-like “Concerto in D minor for Organ, Transverse Flute and Strings.” This little-known French composer died in 1795 at the age of 86, leaving a small repertoire of mainly organ music. This modest work, presented here by Helmuth Rilling, is the last of the "Opus 26 Organ Concertos” and owes a good deal to the great German master of organ music, J.S. Bach.

Clear enough in recorded sound, the performance is slightly distant, the boost from the volume doing wonders for listening pleasure. The final piece is Handel’s “Organ Concerto No. 13 — The Cuckoo and the Nightingale,” a refined and noble work that receives similar treatment.

RECORDER MUSIC. The Dolce Consort with Gary Brain, Barry Nalder, Farquhar Wilkinson. ODE Records SODE 218. Curiously, anyone automatically coupling Vivaldi with recorder music will find nothing here of that composer, the oldest pieces are taken from the 14th century and

the latest from the 20th ’ (“Blaze Away,” “Colonel Bogey.”) A good deal of side one is absorbed in dances of Elizabeth I and King ; James I. These courtly proceedings have a rich . vein of humour, The sound quality 2 is immaculate. j