“Fairy Tales" CD by Ksenija Sidorova |
“I believe that the repertoire on this disc”, says Ksenija Sidorova in her Forward to the accompanying booklet, “shows the accordion’s possibilities to the full”. She goes on to say that by “ …mixing transcriptions with repertoire written especially for the accordion…the audience has a fresh perspective on so-called “old stuff” after hearing the…unique sound of the new…I consider it my mission in this way to introduce the instrument to a wider audience”.
There can be no doubt of the brilliance of the musicianship and accordion playing on this disc and its excellent programme building of the old and the new. Performances of Moritz Moszkowski’s ‘Caprice Espagnol’ and Rachmaninov’s transcription of the ‘Scherzo’ from Mendelssohn’s incidental music to ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ are designed to thrill audiences and Ksenija certainly achieves this emotive impact in this recording as she does in the concert hall. But there is indeed more – a complete performance of the original piano version of Grieg’s ‘Holberg Suite’, more usually associated by audiences with the composer’s subsequent orchestral arrangement. All these works are orchestral in character and with her splendid Pigini accordion, using sustained notes, bellows shakes and fine registration in both hands, Ksenija achieves that fresh perspective with great artistry.
Principal interest must lie with the title piece of the disc, the ‘Fairy Tale Suite for Orchestra and Accordion’ by Vaclav Trojan (1907 – 1983), performed by Ksenija with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Clark Rundell. ‘Fairy Tales’ is a wonderfully imaginative work in seven-movements blending highly accessible Czech folk and dance music with bravura passages for the soloist and using the accordion’s unique sound with the orchestra to evince fairy tale magic effects.
The titles of the seven movements of the piece give away the sentiment and emotive impact of the music. It begins with ‘Let us Dance’ into the ‘Fairy Tales’ with snap and bounce as the accordion answers the orchestra. The mood changes in the second movement with ‘The Sleepy Princess’. After a quick third movement there comes a highly dramatic movement as ‘The Brave Princess faces the Evil Dragon’ of her dream.
After this there follows a cheeky dance movement and then a waltz before the work builds to a rousing finale with a motto perpetuo passage from the soloist and final overwhelming conclusion by the orchestra.
Although it was written in 1959 and has been broadcast by the BBC, this is the first recording of this work. It must be hoped that this excellent recorded performance will establish it as a regular piece in the classical concert repertoire, identified with the accordion.
Two other short original accordion works are included on this CD. Immediately following ‘Fairy Tales’ comes a modern solo ‘Who’s the Puppet?’, written for Ksenija by Artem Vassiliev. The very modern twist of this piece contrasts extremely well with ‘Fairy Tales’. Better known to accordionists is Petr Londonov’s ‘Scherzo Toccata’, which again with its sharp rhythmic emphasis follows on well after the Mendelssohn work.
The CD concludes with a bonus track with the BBC Welsh Orchestra and violinist Thomas Gould with a beautifully smooth rendering of Astor Piazzolla’s well-known ‘Oblivion’.
This is a “must have” CD for all accordionists who like classical music played on their instrument. It represents a very high level of musical accomplishment and fully deserves to achieve Ksenija Sidorova’s passionate mission of taking the accordion to a wide audience.
Published by Champs Hill Records. Music Room, Champs Hill, West Sussex, UK. |
