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An exciting piece of contemporary music (Gubaidulina)
which in a radical fashion broadens the reception of sound.
The extra frisson of a concert performance.
American Record Guide
9/96
L'une des versions de
reférence
de ce chef-d'oeuvre de Ravel.
Répertoire 12/93
Exceptional Violinist
The Presence of the
Physical
As the single contemporary work in the Edition so
far, the Duo of Sofia Gubaidulina, "Rejoice!" for violin and
cello seems somewhat isolated, especially as Kagan was very interested in
modern music. The recording of the Finnish Kuhmo première of 1988 appears
in Volume 1. One finds here also strong physical presence, perhaps even
stronger than in the Shostakovich piece. Moreover there is an incredible
variety of tone colour. Interesting to hear is how the typical Kagan sound
is forced to disappear behind Gubaidulina's playing instructions and how
it reappears when the composition becomes very emotional. What is
characteristic of Kagan's playing? The quick, brilliant vibrato? It isn't
just decoration but has an effect of an unique aura. Or is it his command
of the bow, in piano parts vulnerable and fragile, in Forte full and
physically present? Most important is that despite these very personal
characteristics, the violin never comes before the music, that his
virtuosity never covers up Gubaidulina's work. This is achieved thanks to
the honesty with which Kagan uses his phenomenal technical ability, his
musical persuasiveness and his deep comprehension of the music itself.
Benjamin
Herzog
Basler
Zeitung 3/99
Hommage à la culture francaise, cette Sonate de
Ravel est habitée ici avec la force de
deux artistes exceptionnels. La rugosité
proche de Bartok, déjà manifeste,
ressort avec plus d’évidence encore,
assurant à l’oeuvre sa parfaite
modernité de langage. Celle-ci va de pair
avec celle de Sofia Goubaidoulina dans sa
Sonate Rejoice! (1981), dédiée
aux deux interprètes. Geste éminemment
mystique, Rejoice demeure avant
tout musique et comme chez Ravel,
problème musical à résoudre. Son
étonnante alchimie sonore peut dérouter,
car Dame Goubaidoulina récuse tout
attendrissement platement métaphysique et
creuse au plus profond d'elle-même pour
porter au jour un monde sonore complexe.
Kagan et Gutman avec leurs archets de
sourciers nous l’exposent en pleine
lumière, et une rare maestria.
Jacques
Di Vanni
Compact Classique 1993
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