CD Review


Vertige
Trio Solotarev (accordion) and Francisco Dillon (cello)
Stradivarius
03 March 2005


Great contemporary music for accordion trio. The Solotarev Trio consisting of Germano Scurti, Dario Flammini, Walter Di Girolamo (well-known accordion trio in the field of contemporary music, winners of important competitions) has penetrated in the "heart" of music for bayan concert.

In this CD "Vertige" there are works by Gyorgy Ligeti, Alfred Schnittke, Jukka Tiensuu and Anatolij Kusjakov using a formation of accordion trio and then two pieces of Sofja Gubajdulina: Sonata "Et Exspecto" for accordion solo (Flammini) and "In Croce" for accordion (Scurti) and cello (Dillon).

The entire CD is a production of the highest level, starting with the production label "Stradivarius", which we appreciate the enthusiasm the interest demonstrated by this famous label towards the accordion, plus giving merit for the technical quality of the digital sound. And of course, not to be forgotten, the highest standard by the four musicians from both a technical and interpretation point of view.

Not always, is there such a good graphical and content description in the CD booklet which is in three languages. Although this CD contains only contemporary music, it amazingly includes some non-original compositions.

The three studies of Ligeti for pianoforte or player-piano, the piece by Schnittke for pianoforte for 6 hands, "In Croce" originally for organ and cello, and "Sonata No. 1" by Kusjakov originally for one solo accordion, transformed after an input to the composer given by members of the Solotarev Trio.

It is true that the version of Gubajdulina has been realized after Elsbeth Moser collaborated with the composer and consequently, this does not authorize us to speak about a transcription. But, this is the fundamental point of these "selections" of compositions made by the Trio. No force - no extravagance created between original and non-orginal pieces.

The conceptual and outstanding music of Ligeti evidences the Trios challenge of technique and virtuosity. The piece for 6 hands by Schnittke is purpously "taken apart" in this re-transcription and the Sonata with this "new garment", acquires still more force and vigor, exalting the quality of execution.

Once again and always, including from the very first time, I remain bewitched by the energy and the composing language/style that composer Jukka Tiensuu has employed in "Mutta", one of the great masterpieces for trio and generally as literature for our instrument, a jewel in the collection to show every time a jewel is needed. Works like this help us to remember what an important role the accordion has played in new music in the second half of the 1900's. Many reasons that show the importance of this disc...

Reviewed by Paolo Picchio, Musicologist
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