Search - Charles Koechlin, Heinz Holliger, SWR Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra :: Charles Koechlin: Le Docteur Fabricius; Vers la Voûte étoilée

World premieres of two Koechlin orchestral works

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 07/19/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Opinions vary more on the durability of the orchestral works of Charles Koechlin than on his chamber works and works for solo instruments. Venturing more into the realm of early Schoenberg the two works premiered on this CD by Heinz Holliger conducting the SWR Radio-sinfonieorchester Stuttgart give insight as to why Koechlin was an important teacher in his time.



The brief nocturne 'Vers la Voûte étoilée' is more purely impressionistic in compositional technique and the result is a lovely moody and shimmering work. 'Le Docteur Fabricius' is far more adventuresome a composition with Koechlin successfully playing with atonality, polytonality, chromaticism and extended uses of the chorale movements that echo Renaissance themes. The orchestration tends toward the thick side, but is use of dissonant counterpoint surfaces to infuse the orchestral fabric with life. It is interesting to find a composer other than Messiaen who utilized the Ondes Martinot instrument to enhance the color and mystery: the movement entitled 'Le Ciel étoilée' is wondrously other worldly!



Heinz Holliger is to be commended for introducing recordings of these two works by a composer who seems ready for rebirth. The recorded sound is excellent and while the overall effect of these two works leans a bit more toward the academic than the sensual, the works do justify hearing. Grady Harp, July 05





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