In a significant new release, the austere and intellectually profound late works of Igor Stravinsky have been given a vibrant new lease of life. Conductor Daniel Reuss leads the Noord Nederlands Orkest and Cappella Amsterdam in a recording that challenges the perception of this period as merely cerebral, revealing instead its hidden beauty and emotional power.
The Austere Genius of Stravinsky's Final Years
During his seventh and eighth decades, the legendary composer Igor Stravinsky became deeply engrossed by the rigours of serialism. This musical system, which structures pitch and other elements in a series, represented both a distillation of his artistic thought and a formidable creative challenge in his advanced years. While some of his contemporaries found the output from this phase stark, the new album argues compellingly for its self-effacing purity and complex beauty.
Daniel Reuss earns high praise for his leadership, delivering interpretations that are meticulously precise yet brimming with vitality. His approach allows colour and light to flood music once considered forbidding, making a potent case for its wider appreciation.
A Journey Through Four Major Compositions
The album centres on four cornerstone pieces from Stravinsky's serialist period. It opens with the 1954 work 'In Memoriam Dylan Thomas', an extended and passionate setting of the poet's 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night' for solo tenor.
This is followed by 'Threni' from 1958, a multifaceted setting of texts from the Book of Lamentations described as a spiny jewel. The collection is completed by the haunting 'Introitus' (1965) and the bristling 'Requiem Canticles' (1966).
These major works are interspersed with shorter pieces, including an unpretentious Lord's Prayer and the severely cerebral two-minute 'Elegy for JFK'.
Orchestral Precision Meets Vocal Character
The success of this recording rests on the synergy between two exceptional ensembles. The Noord Nederlands Orkest provides a foundation of fearless clarity, their playing consistently crisp and clean. However, it is the characterful and compelling vocals of Cappella Amsterdam that truly captivate the listener, injecting humanity and drama into Stravinsky's intricate structures and bringing the spellbinding scores to vivid life.
Captured with state-of-the-art sonics by the label Pentatone, this release stands as a prime contender in a field that is not overcrowded. It offers a fresh, essential perspective on the final chapter of one of the 20th century's greatest composers, masterfully guided by Daniel Reuss's insightful baton.
