Search - Dmitry Shostakovich, Arnold Schoenberg, Nash Ensemble :: Dmitry Shostakovich: Piano Quintet; Piano Trio No. 2; Waltzes; Arnold Schoenberg: Ode to Napoleon; Verklärte Nache

Warm and welcoming Shostakovich and Schoenberg

Robert L. Berkowitz | Natick, MA United States | 02/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are not that familiar with the music of Shostakovich and Schoenberg -- as I was prior to this CD -- this is an excellent and friendly introduction. Both the Schoenberg and Shostakovich selections are among the composers' most accessible works.



Moreover, the Nash Ensemble has to be one of the finest chamber ensembles around. They play with exquisite command and finesse. And the Virgin engineers do a fine job of capturing their sound in a warm, ambient acoustic.



My first introduction to the Shostakovich Piano Quintet and Piano Trio was through a recording by the Borodin ensemble. Although their playing is beautiful and brought the music home to me, this recording by the Nash Ensemble is superior in part because the recorded sound is better and because the musicians seem to play with more vigor and commitment. The waltzes and the Piano trio round out the first disc with delightful and immediately appealing music.



The Schoenberg works are utterly remarkable. If you avoided Schoenberg because you were put off by his serial tonality, you don't need to avoid this CD. These works will convince you that Schoenberg was rooted in a romantic tradition prior to embarking on his serial tonal journey. The surprise jewel on this second disc was the Ode to Napoleon recited by Thomas Allen -- one can imagine it as a classical forerunner to rap music. I was particularly taken by how Schoenberg's harmonies could reach such moving climaxes in each of the works on this CD.



If you want to expose yourself to these composers to help develop an appreciation for their work, this is an excellent CD to obtain. I recommend it highly."