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Review by threerandot January 20, 2007 (5 of 5 found this review helpful)
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Concertos and Fairytales is a collection of four compositions written for trombone and orchestra. The word "modern" could easily be used to describe these works and some may not care for these pieces as they abandon traditional harmonies. However, no one is going to call this disc dull and music lovers owe it to themselves to give a recording of this quality a listen.
PK Svensen is the soloist and is a charismatic performer who plays with plenty of ease and bravado. These are all dynamic and innovative works that lovers of modern music will appreciate. PK Sven sen's's playing may even convert those who do not appreciate modern music. This music places Svensen clearly within the orchestra and sometimes it feels as though he has stepped right into the middle of your living room! The music may be called "melodic", but I think that these pieces are more lyrical, as they do not seem to have any set tunes within them.
The first piece by 2L in-house pianist/composer Wolfgang Plagge probably is the most atmospheric of the works here and to my ears, seems to be Russian influenced in style. As with all of the works in this collection, this music has a rather improvised feeling to it. The concerto by Egil Hovland displays beautiful percussion throughout and even seems to have some touches of humor. The Elegi by Amdahl is the shortest piece at under four minutes with distinct jazz influences here and there. The final work by Aagaard-Nilsen is the biggest and boldest of this disc and never sits still. With plenty of special effects on the trombone and dissonant harmonies, this concerto is very free form in feeling. It is also marked by the strongest percussion, particularly by loud kettle drums.
These are all virtuoso works with two of them composed for the more than capable soloist who graces this recording. 2L must be commended for putting together such a persuasive package of music for this all too rarely featured instrument as soloist. With excellent support in the rear channels, the sound is big, broad and open and features what I consider to be the best sounding percussion I have heard on any record to date! A disc not to be missed.
This review is for the MCH portion of this disc.
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