Site Navigation
|
Audio
Photos
More from MPR
|
 |
| "Violonchelo Español"—Yuli Turovsky, I Musici de Montreal (album cover) |
St. Paul, Minn. — Spain has a lengthy reputation for luring artists and musicians to its magical land. The flamboyant dance rhythms, sparkling colors and passionate aura associated with Spain are hard to resist. In a matter of minutes, I found myself cast under its spell as I listened to "Violonchelo Español."
On this new release, cellist Yuli Turovsky and the ensemble he founded 22 years ago, I Musici de Montreal, explore the deep musical tradition of Spain.
For centuries the creative musical activity in Spain centered on musicians from abroad, like Domenico Scarlatti and Luigi Boccherini. That changed when Felipe Pedrell came on the scene. He was a composer, and the founder of modern Spanish music.
Pedrell encouraged his students to tune in to their country's rich musical heritage. Three of his most famous students appear on this release: Manuel de Falla, Enrique Granados, and Isaac Albeniz. This recording fans out even further to include some later Spanish composers, and some Russian composers inspired by their travels to the Iberian Peninsula.
Alexander Glazunov's life straddled two centuries: the end of the 19th and the first half of the 20th. His music straddled two cultures; the contemporary Russian nationalism of his teacher Rimsky-Korsakov and the older German tradition of classical music masters like Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms.
When he was 19 years old, Glazunov took a trip to the southern Mediterranean Coast. That adventure inspired his Spanish Serenade, and from the sound of the music, he had a great time. He clearly absorbed his surroundings; in less than three minutes, his Serenade really captures the essence of Spain, with plucking violins and orchestration reminiscent of Spanish guitar music.
Next to Pablo Casals, the greatest cellist to come out of Spain was Gaspar Cassadó. When he was just nine years old, he played his first public performance. Casals heard him and immediately offered to give Cassadó lessons. He started studying with Casals when he was just 12 years old, which probably makes him Casals' youngest student.
Cassadó must have been doing well, because the city of Barcelona gave him a scholarship to study with Casals in Paris. Later, he studied composition with Manuel de Falla and Maurice Ravel.
Like his teacher, Cassadó also composed. He represents the later generation of Spanish composersin the 20th century. His best known work opens this new release. It's titled "Requiebros," (which means "gallantry"), and it's dedicated to Casals. Along with strumming guitar effects, the piece includes native dance rhythms and a bold melody that immediately creates an image of his homeland.
My favorite piece is Cassadó's "Sonata in the Old Spanish Style." It opens with a long, emotional melodic line that sounds like he's drifting off into a dream. You know how quickly events can change when you're dreaming? The same holds true for this sonata.
In the first movement the adventure begins slowly, like a cloud floating in the breeze. Suddenly the energetic allegro bubbles to the surface percolating over the strings of the cello. Yuli Turovsky's bow bounces across the notes inviting us to come along for the ride. The somber slow movement could make a legend out of any cellist who can master its melancholy mood.
The tears are brushed away for the light-hearted finale. It may be frolicsome, but the final movement also pauses for a few moments of tenderness.
I can imagine gazing at the panoramic view of the snow-covered Pyrenees Mountains while listening to this new release. The music on "Violonchelo Español" really does cast a magical spell, just like the mystical Mediterranean coast and country that inspired it.
|
|