Spark – Downtown Illusions – ARS Produktion multichannel SACD ARS 38 084, 69:51 [Distr. by Qualiton] ****:
(Andrea Ritter & Daniel Koschitzki, recorders; Stefan Glaus, violin & viola; Victor Plumettaz, cello; Jutta Rieping, piano)
Another fascinating classical crossover effort from Germany. This adventurous quintet brings together both standard familiar composers and brand new ones in a multicultural mix of traditions, trends, classical drive, great virtuosity and often pop music grooves. Their intent is to capture a cutting-edge urban feeling in their performances – presenting “chamber music” in an entirely new light that would appeal to other than the expected chamber music fans. Who would expect to hear “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” in a chamber music concert, I ask you?
One long at the playlist shows the wild versatility of the quintet. Mixed in with the mostly unknown composers are Bach, Faure, Michael Nyman, even three movements of a Vivaldi concerto! But not like you’ve heard the Concerto No. 2 in G minor of Op. 3 before: its first movement has no identifiable solo instrument, the second features the violin and the third the two recorders. Vivaldi never had such a strong rhythmic element as with Spark. And at its conclusion it flows into the next track, one with a deep bass beat which will rock your subwoofer. The sort of machine-gun rhythmic structure of much of the music is found strongly in the two Michael Nyman selections.
This is probably the most entertaining album featuring recorders that I’ve ever heard. It certainly puts a radical new face on chamber music and classical in general. And the great multichannel surround aids one’s immersion in the busy "downtown" music.
TrackList:
Chiel Meijering
Harde Puntjes, for ensemble
Michael Nyman
Jack, theme (from the film "Wonderland")
Gabriel Fauré
Après un rêve ("Dans un sommeil"), song for voice & piano, Op. 7/1
Lev "Ljova" Zhurbin
Tango Heavy, for 2 recorders, strings & piano
Kenji Bunch
Groovebox Variations, for piano trio & electronics
Chiel Meijering
The journey has just begun, for ensemble
Johannes Motschmann Meteor, for ensemble
Johann Sebastian Bach
Cantata No. 106, "Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit," ("Actus Tragicus"), BWV 106 (BC B18) : Sonatina
Andrea Ritter
Song and Dance, for ensemble (after Claude Bolling & Roger Jannotta)
Michael Nyman
Nadia, theme (from the film "Wonderland")
Christopher Hermann
Dinah’s Night Flight, for ensemble
Chiel Meijering
Dreams, for 2 recorders & piano
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto for 2 violins, cello, strings & continuo in G minor ("L’estro armonico" No. 2), Op. 3/2, RV 578
Chiel Meijering
Harde Puntjes, for ensemble
Bob Gaudio
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
Daniel Koschitzki
Nostalgie, for ensemble
— John Sunier
