Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge [piano] – “Furatus” = Music by GRIEG, KOSAKU YAMADA, SHOSTAKOVICH, TVEITT and NIELSEN – audio-only Blu-ray & SACD

by | Mar 13, 2017 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Music for trumpet and piano in sparkling sound.

Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge [piano] – “Furatus” = Music by GRIEG, KOSAKU YAMADA, SHOSTAKOVICH, TVEITT and NIELSEN – Pure Audio Blu-ray – 5.1 surround + stereo + mShuttle /+ SACD multichannel and stereo – 2L-130, 53:10 ea. (2 discs) [Distr. by Naxos] ****:

Recorded in the accommodating acoustics of Sofienberg Church & Jar Church, Norway during 2012 and 2013, this recital of music for trumpet and piano by Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge impresses in its variety.

The Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (From Holberg’s Time) by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) was written in 1884 and comes across as a nineteenth-century take on eighteenth-century dance music.  While it was conceived as a suite for a string orchestra, Grieg made that orchestration only after its original publication as a suite for piano.  The arrangement here, for trumpet and piano, works remarkably well and gives plenty of opportunity for Antonsen to display his excellent technique.

The arrangement of three songs by Kosaku Yamada (1886-1965) and Hardingtonar by Geirr Tveitt (1908-1981) provide a more relaxed interlude of folk-music inspired works with some sensitive playing by the duo.  The second and fourth parts of Hardingtonar come from the 100 Hardanger Tunes, the other three described by the duo as “the products of a free approach, in his spirit with kind permission”.

The Three Fantastic Dances, Op. 5 by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), originally for piano solo, work extremely well in this arrangement for trumpet and piano, and are given a gripping account.  Finally, in this recital, we hear the six Humoresque-Bagatelles, Op. 11 by Carl Nielsen (1865-1931). Nielsen’s well-developed sense of humour comes across clearly in these light-hearted pieces, originally written for piano, and arranged here for piccolo trumpet and piano.  They make a most suitable end to this well-constructed recital.

Produced in DXD (Digital eXtreme Definition 352.8kHz/24bit) the recording appears on two discs, a Blu-ray audio with 2.0 PCM 24bit/192kHz and 5.1 DTS- HD MA 24bit/192kHz, and an SACD with stereo and multichannel programmes.  The sound quality, especially in surround mode, as captured in the two churches, is outstandingly good, as one has come to expect from 2L.

Those preferring downloads can choose from a wide array of formats from MP3 all the way up to Hi-Res Stereo 352kHz FLAC or DSD128, and it’s worth pointing out that the Blu-ray disc gives via mShuttle access to the music files on the disc. This is a highly recommended recital which comes on a disc with the highest production values.

—Peter Joelson

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