Audio CD review:
Fred Sherry, Joel Krosnick, Elliott Carter, Arthur Weisberg, Helmuth Kolbe, Harvey Sollberger, Paul Jacobs, Charles Kuskin, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, Gilbert Kalish - Elliott Carter: Sonata for Flute, Oboe, Cello & Harpsichord; Sonata for Cello & Piano; Double Concerto for Harpsichor

Fred Sherry, Joel Krosnick, Elliott Carter, Arthur Weisberg, Helmuth Kolbe, Harvey Sollberger, Paul Jacobs, Charles Kuskin, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, Gilbert Kalish - Elliott Carter: Sonata for Flute, Oboe, Cello & Harpsichord; Sonata for Cello & Piano; Double Concerto for Harpsichor

Band: Fred Sherry, Joel Krosnick, Elliott Carter, Arthur Weisberg, Helmuth Kolbe, Harvey Sollberger, Paul Jacobs, Charles Kuskin, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, Gilbert Kalish Title: Elliott Carter: Sonata for Flute, Oboe, Cello & Harpsichord; Sonata for Cello & Piano; Double Concerto for Harpsichor Rating: Release Date: 24 March, 1992 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Sonata For Flute, Oboe, Cello & Harpischord: Risoluto 2: Sonata For Flute, Oboe, Cello & Harpischord: Lento 3: Sonata For Flute, Oboe, Cello & Harpischord: Allegro 4: SONATA FOR CELLO & PIANO: Moderato 5: SONATA FOR CELLO & PIANO: Vivace, molto leggiero 6: SONATA FOR CELLO & PIANO: Adagio 7: SONATA FOR CELLO & PIANO: Allegro 8: Double Concerto For Harpischord & Piano With Two Chamber Orchestras: Introduction 9: Double Concerto For Harpischord & Piano With Two Chamber Orchestras: Cadenza For Harpischord 10: Double Concerto For Harpischord & Piano With Two Chamber Orchestras: Allegro scherzando 11: Double Concerto For Harpischord & Piano With Two Chamber Orchestras: Adagio 12: Double Concerto For Harpischord & Piano With Two Chamber Orchestras: Presto 13: Double Concerto For Harpischord & Piano With Two Chamber Orchestras: Cadenzas For Piano 14: Double Concerto For Harpischord & Piano With Two Chamber Orchestras: Coda

Customer Reviews Some material transcends, some reiterates narrow confines These three works obviously have much in common with some of the sporadic, atonal sentiment which dominates current compositions, almost always to the detriment of the music. 3 1/2 Carter is said to be one of the important modern American classical composers, but I agree with the previous reviewer who finds the first half far superior to the latter. We do see that generically rampant, neo-classical "sketching" throughout the Double Concerto, but Carter's 2 Sonatas on the disc push past a compositional void that nearly curses the entire genre. Although the schizophrenic nature remains intact, these sonatas are gently layered with a musicality that gives form to an often formless gesture. . like listening to barbed wire (double concerto)very good(cello sonata) All this has undoubted poetry but it has to be said,returning to the piece after some ten years that grasping the whole is pretty tricky and the climactic moments (track14!) are somewhat akin to listening to barbed wire. The Double Concerto begins promisingly enough with mysterious percussion rustlings from which string tremelos emerge,soon echoed by the solo piano and harpsichord. For all Carter's harmonic formulations(or perhaps because of) the pitch content often sounds rather lifeless,it's as if there's no centre of any kind. Yes,the various skitterings of the two soloists are enjoyable but i can't imagine this piece ever being taken up in a big way. The cello sonata is the best piece on the disc. The rhetoric is more conventional than the concerto,even neo-classical and Carter is on much more sure territory here:There's a fantastic jazz-like swing to the second movement and the opening moderato with the mechanical ticking on the piano accompanying the passionate cello is one of Carter's most inspired creations. 3 Carter masterpieces Carter's signature complex crossrhythms are present but they are delightfully airy and not at all forbidding. The Sonata for Flute, Oboe, Cello and Harpsichord is immediately appealing. This is an excellent place to start your exploration of Carter's vast and imaginative work. The Cello Sonata is also quite accessible . It's a big and exciting piece. The Double Concerto is another matter! It took me many listenings before I really started enjoying it but it was worth the effort. These performances are thrilling. . . You can see a complete list of all Fred Sherry, Joel Krosnick, Elliott Carter, Arthur Weisberg, Helmuth Kolbe, Harvey Sollberger, Paul Jacobs, Charles Kuskin, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, Gilbert Kalish discography, or go back to the Fred Sherry, Joel Krosnick, Elliott Carter, Arthur Weisberg, Helmuth Kolbe, Harvey Sollberger, Paul Jacobs, Charles Kuskin, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, Gilbert Kalish tabs