Coctail "Rio Rita"This recording could not possibly be better named nor could it have a better cover! The last piece on the CD is the Cocktail “Rio Rita” by Efrem Podgaits, born in 1949 and composer of over 200 works for many different instruments. The 15 for bayan include this piece along with the “Viva Voce,” “Ex animo,” the “Lips Concerto,” “Ave Maria,” and others equally interesting and musically important. “Rio Rita” refers to the very popular piece presented in the 1928 Broadway Musical and, as well, in the 1929 Film. In this version it is a quintet for violin, violoncello, bayan, piano, and percussion. It is an exploration of the connections of the popular piece – Rio Rita – to the music of classical composers and folk music, citing the compositions of several very well-known composers.The front cover has the world-renowned Russian bayan artist, Friedrich Lips, with a contagiously friendly smile on his face and holding a large wine glass out for all to enjoy! That invitation gives one a glimpse of the intriguing performances recorded within the CD. Friedrich Lips has also written the very fine program notes included with the CD. Opening the recording is the Edison Denisov piece, “The Steamer is sailing past the harbour.” The piece was written for a humorous concert and is a fantasy on topics of popular Soviet songs of the 1930s, written in tonal form.” It is definitely identified exactly as Lips has described it, “This oeuvre allows the audience quite well to detect how the author is making fun of the pathetic, but bright melodies of that time.” It is entertaining, especially when considering why it was written. Astor Piazzolla wrote many pieces, but “Aconcagua,” the “Concerto for Bandoneon and Orchestra,” is special in that it most assuredly is among the best of his compositional achievements. There is the unmistakable tango element throughout and the Second movement showcasing the harp, piano and bandoneon is simply beautiful and rare. As always, Friedrich Lips projects the perfect dynamic temperament and rhythmic abandonment so necessary to the music of Piazzolla. The “Concerto for Bandoneon and Orchestra” was performed on Astor Piazzolla’s very last concert, one which was presented on July 3, 1990 in Athens, Greece. Next is “Amarillis” by the female Russian composer, Tatjana Sergeyeva, who has written other titles referring to flowers and which also included the bayan. Lips remarks, “‘Amarillis’ belongs to this series presenting wonderful aromas.” It is hoped that the composer will continued to write even more for the bayan/accordion in the future. Alexander Zhurbin has had many musical successes, perhaps none more so than his 1975 “Orpheus and Eurydice,” a Rock Opera, which won many significant notices. The “Concert- burlesque” showcased here is particularly exciting because it is performed by six students of Friedrich Lips. It is impressive as a solo and even more so as demonstrated here. Most accordionists eventually get around to playing, or at least becoming familiar with, “The Jolly Caballero” by Pietro Frosini at some time during their lifetime. But rarely will they sound like the six musicians, again the same six students of Lips as above, performing it in this recording. It is an entertaining and clever arrangement during which they maneuver with great clarity and relish! “La Cumparsita,” written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez, who was at the time a student of architecture in Montevideo, is indeed the most famous tango ever written and this arrangement by Astor Piazzolla is undoubtedly one of the best of the hundreds heard throughout the world. He, like other musicians, in fact described the original song as being not very good but with a bass line and some harmony added, it became good. Yes, this has been a really fine “Cocktail.” It seems that Friedrich Lips, regardless of the repertoire, always makes the music the finest there is. And, very importantly, he preserves the music written by some of the most active and successful composers of today. They perhaps would not have written for the bayan/accordion without the assurance their pieces would be performed by an artist such as Friedrich Lips, who once again performs with an unerring musical passion. The several other musicians heard on this recording are also of the first rank, especially the pianist, Svjatoslav Lips, who has been heard on other extremely outstanding recordings by Friedrich Lips. The members of the two orchestras, and the instrumentalists Vladislav Igolinsky, violin, Kirill Rodin, cello, and Viktor Sych, percussion, provide great support in their considerable contributions to this fine CD. You will enjoy this recording. It is another one of those which should be included in any complete collection devoted to the accordion/bayan, its artists, and its increasingly interesting repertoire. LIPS CD023 is produced by Dr. Herbert & Johannes Scheibenreif herbert@accordion-cd.co.at Reviewed by Joan Cochran Sommers ... November 2011. |
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