TheContrapuntist.com has a wonderful and lengthy review for Roger Myers and the London Symphony Orchestra’s latest Delos recording — Fantasy And Farewell: Music for Viola and Orchestra.
“In Fantasy and Farewell, Myers performs with an infinite range of color and impeccable technique. He is accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Michael Francis. Myers and the orchestra communicate seamlessly with each other, creating a powerful collaboration between chamber musicians rather than the stereotypical soloist battling against an orchestra…
“Myers does an exquisite job of evoking the characters of a damsel in distress and a heroic knight in the third movement. The speedy 16th note triplets have become the pitter patter of the damsel’s slippers as she runs from a dastardly villain. McLean portrays the knight’s bravery with swashbuckling enthusiasm. The final movement depicts a child falling asleep sleep while listening to her mother reading fairytales. In a duet with the viola’s closest tonal relative, the clarinet, Myers lulls the listener with a warm tone and luscious vibrato while the orchestra cushions the duo with plush harmonies…
“The most successful parts of this piece are those with the sparsest instrumentation. The opening of the first movement, featuring Myers’ pizzicato melody accompanied by string soloists playing without vibrato, is eerie enough to raise goose pimples…“This album will make a great addition to any violist’s collection. The McLean piece has enough nuance and complexity to hold up to repeated listening. The Schumann arrangement is an absolute delight, and the Shostakovich … features Myers at his expressive best…” — “Viola Da Voce”, The Contrapuntist
Read the wonderful, thorough, review on thecontrapuntist.com!
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