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Motets & Piano Trio
Felix Mendelssohn

Flemish Radio Choir

Motets & Piano Trio

Price: € 19.95
Format: CD
Label: Evil Penguin
UPC: 0608917721126
Catnr: EPRC 0024
Release date: 08 September 2017
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€ 19.95
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Label
Evil Penguin
UPC
0608917721126
Catalogue number
EPRC 0024
Release date
08 September 2017

"GREAT INTERPRETERS:: Martha Argerich, Hervé Niquet, Pieter Wispelwey, Zubin Mehta, Menahem Pressler"

Classic Voice, 02-1-2018
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Artist(s)
Composer(s)
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About the album

Albums rarely contain both chamber and choral music, but in the case of Felix Mendelssohn, the juxtaposition is justified. For which is the more Bach-inspired? The a cappella works which breathe Bach in every note, or the Piano Trio no. 2 with the choral Herr Gott dich loben wir, which also motors Bach’s cantata 130? An exceptional trio featuring violinist Pekka Kuusisto, cellist Pieter Wispelwey, and pianist Alasdair Beatson, as well as the acclaimed Flemish Radio Choir and conductor Hervé Niquet, bring homage to the composer who gave second life to Bach, and grace and poetry to the romantics.

Een knipoog naar Bach in een ode aan Mendelssohn
Klassieke albums bevatten zelden koor- en kamermuziekrepertoire, maar op deze nieuwe release is die confrontatie perfect gerechtvaardigd. Want welke muziek van Felix Mendelssohn is het meest door Bach geïnspireerd? De Lutherse koorwerken die Bach in elke noot uitademen? Of het verrukkelijke tweede Pianotrio, met het koraal Herr Gott dich loben wir dat ook Bachs cantate BWV 130 aandreef?

Hoewel de Thomaskantor over Mendelssohns schouder meeluistert op dit album, heeft diens adembenemend mooie muziek de Bach-geloofsbrieven helemaal niet nodig om te betoveren: de belangrijkste vereiste om het genie en de lyriek uit Mendelssohns muziek te bevrijden zijn gevoelige en toegewijde uitvoerders.

De twee ensembles van dit album, het Vlaams Radio Koor o.l.v. Hervé Niquet en een trio van cellovirtuoos Pieter Wispelwey, violist Pekka Kuusisto, en pianist Alasdair Beatson, brengen hulde aan een componist die niet lang genoeg geleefd heeft om de faam te krijgen die hij verdiende, maar wel een tweede leven aan Bach schonk, en – veel belangrijker nog – gratie, intensiteit, en poëzie aan de Romantiek.

Selten findet man auf einer CD sowohl Kammer- als auch Chormusik, doch bei Felix Mendelssohn ist die Gegenüberstellung gerechtfertigt. Welches Werk zeigt den größten Einfluss Bachs – die a capella-Werke, in denen Bach aus jedem Ton spricht, oder das Klaviertrio Nr. 2 mit dem Chorteil „Herr Gott dich loben wir“, der auch Bachs Kantate BWV130 antreibt? Ein außergewöhnliches Trio bestehend aus Violinist Pekka Kuusisto, Cellist Pieter Wispelwey und Pianist Alasdair Beatson, der vielgelobte Flämische Rundfunkchor und Dirigent Hervé Niquet zollen dem Komponisten Tribut, der Bachs Werken wieder Leben eingehaucht und der Romantik Eleganz und Poesie geschenkt hat.

Artist(s)

Flemish Radio Choir (vocals)

The Vlaams Radio Koor (Flemish Radio Choir) was founded in 1937 by the Belgian public broadcaster of the day. Today it has become a choir of exceptionally high quality that counts both domestically and internationally among the top ensembles. The 24 professional singers rehearse under the baton of chief conductor Hervé Niquet in Studio 1 of the well-known Flagey building in Brussels, and perform throughout Flanders and Europe.
more
The Vlaams Radio Koor (Flemish Radio Choir) was founded in 1937 by the Belgian public broadcaster of the day. Today it has become a choir of exceptionally high quality that counts both domestically and internationally among the top ensembles. The 24 professional singers rehearse under the baton of chief conductor Hervé Niquet in Studio 1 of the well-known Flagey building in Brussels, and perform throughout Flanders and Europe.

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Hervé Niquet (conductor)

Hervé Niquet, chief conductor of the Flemish Radio Choir as of 2011, is a passionate musician like most of the composers of Baroque music whose works he enjoys. He studied not only harpsichord, piano and organ, but also the lyric arts and conducting. He considers the musical profession from a researcher’s perspective, and thus gives priority to primary sources in order to move beyond established conventions and customs. The experience he garnered from working with several major Baroque ensembles laid the basis for his special connection with the French ‘Grand Motet’ of the 17th and 18th centuries. His great desire to bring new life to this unknown repertoire resulted in 1987 in the establishment of Le Concert Spirituel. Over twenty years,...
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Hervé Niquet, chief conductor of the Flemish Radio Choir as of 2011, is a passionate musician like most of the composers of Baroque music whose works he enjoys. He studied not only harpsichord, piano and organ, but also the lyric arts and conducting. He considers the musical profession from a researcher’s perspective, and thus gives priority to primary sources in order to move beyond established conventions and customs. The experience he garnered from working with several major Baroque ensembles laid the basis for his special connection with the French ‘Grand Motet’ of the 17th and 18th centuries.
His great desire to bring new life to this unknown repertoire resulted in 1987 in the establishment of Le Concert Spirituel. Over twenty years, this ensemble has become the reference point for Baroque music.
In the same spirit, and starting from the principle that over the centuries there has been only one ‘French music’, Hervé Niquet conducts various eminent orchestras, including the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Sinfonia Varsovia, l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Rias Kammerchor, the Kammerorchester Basel, and Brussels Philharmonic.
In 2009, he participated in the foundation of the Centre de musique romantique française, also known as Palazzetto Bru Zane in Venice. This led, among other things, to a prestigious project in collaboration with the Brussels Philharmonic and with the Flemish Radio Choir: a CD collection with music from the Prix de Rome and rarely performed works from the French Romantic repertoire. The first CD of the series is devoted to Debussy (2009), the second volume consists of neglected works by Saint-Saëns (2010), the third disc features the work of Charpentier (2011) and the fourth volume (2012) is dedicated to d’Ollone. In the meantime, new series have been launched featuring portraits of composers and French opera (Joncières’ Dmitri and David’s Herculanum).
Hervé Niquet has been made Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite and an Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.


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Pieter Wispelwey (cello)

Pieter Wispelwey is equally at ease on the modern or period cello. His acute stylistic awareness, combined with a truly original interpretation and a phenomenal technical mastery, has won the hearts of critics and public alike in repertoire ranging from JS Bach to Schnittke, Elliott Carter and works composed for him. Pieter Wispelwey enjoys chamber music collaborations and regular duo partners include pianists Cédric Tiberghien and Alasdair Beatson and he appears as a guest artist with a number of string quartets including the Australian String Quartet. Wispelwey’s career spans five continents and he has appeared as soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras including the Boston Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Tokyo Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, London Philharmonic, Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig, Danish National Radio...
more
Pieter Wispelwey is equally at ease on the modern or period cello. His acute stylistic awareness, combined with a truly original interpretation and a phenomenal technical mastery, has won the hearts of critics and public alike in repertoire ranging from JS Bach to Schnittke, Elliott Carter and works composed for him.
Pieter Wispelwey enjoys chamber music collaborations and regular duo partners include pianists Cédric Tiberghien and Alasdair Beatson and he appears as a guest artist with a number of string quartets including the Australian String Quartet.
Wispelwey’s career spans five continents and he has appeared as soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras including the Boston Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Tokyo Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, London Philharmonic, Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig, Danish National Radio Symphony and Camerata Salzburg. Conductor collaborations include Ivan Fischer, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Herbert Blomstedt, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Jeffrey Tate, Kent Nagano, Sir Neville Marriner, Philippe Herreweghe, Ton Koopman and Sir Roger Norrington.
With regular recital appearances in London (Wigmore Hall), Paris (Châtelet, Louvre), Amsterdam (Concertgebouw, Muziekgebouw), Brussels (Bozar), Berlin (Konzerthaus), Milan (Societta del Quartetto), Buenos Aires (Teatro Colon), Sydney (The Utzon Room), Los Angeles (Walt Disney Hall) and New York (Lincoln Center), Wispelwey has established a reputation as one of the most charismatic recitalists on the circuit.
In 2012 Wispelwey celebrated his 50th birthday by embarking on a project showcasing the Bach Cello Suites. He recorded the complete Suites for the third time. A major strand of his recital performances is his performances of the complete suites during the course of one evening, an accomplishment that has attracted major critical acclaim throughout Europe and the US. Pieter Wispelwey plays on a 1760 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini cello and a 1710 Rombouts baroque cello.

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Alasdair Beatson (piano)

Scottish pianist Alasdair Beatson works prolifically as soloist and chamber musician. He is renowned as a sincere musician and intrepid programmer. Alongside a particular affinity with the classical repertoire and the music of Schumann and Fauré, he often explores the more exotic: Catoire, Pierné, Thuille; Debussy’s Jeux (in the composer’s arrangement for solo piano); Ligeti Horn Trio, Harrison Birtwistle’s Harrison’s Clocks; and Thomas Adès Piano Quintet. His concerto repertoire includes works of Bach, Bartok, Fauré, Hans Abrahamsen, Hindemith, Mozart, Sally Beamish, Stravinsky, and Messiaen.  Alasdair has enjoyed working closely with composers George Benjamin, Harrison Birtwistle, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, and Heinz Holliger. He teaches solo piano at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and regularly mentors for the London-based Chamber Studio. From 2012 to 2018 Alasdair was founder and...
more

Scottish pianist Alasdair Beatson works prolifically as soloist and chamber musician. He is renowned as a sincere musician and intrepid programmer. Alongside a particular affinity with the classical repertoire and the music of Schumann and Fauré, he often explores the more exotic: Catoire, Pierné, Thuille; Debussy’s Jeux (in the composer’s arrangement for solo piano); Ligeti Horn Trio, Harrison Birtwistle’s Harrison’s Clocks; and Thomas Adès Piano Quintet. His concerto repertoire includes works of Bach, Bartok, Fauré, Hans Abrahamsen, Hindemith, Mozart, Sally Beamish, Stravinsky, and Messiaen.

Alasdair has enjoyed working closely with composers George Benjamin, Harrison Birtwistle, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, and Heinz Holliger. He teaches solo piano at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and regularly mentors for the London-based Chamber Studio. From 2012 to 2018 Alasdair was founder and artistic director of Musique à Marsac, and since 2019 is co-artistic director of the Swiss chamber music festival at Ernen.


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Pekka Kuusisto (violin)

Described by The Guardian as ‘a violinist whose rare gift is to become rather than perform the music he plays’, the Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto is internatio- nally renowned for his fresh approach to the repertoire. An advocate of new music, Kuusisto premiered Sebastian Fagerlund’s Violin Concerto and regularly collab- orates with composers such as Nico Muhly and Thomas Adès. In addition to his performances as a concerto soloist, Kuusisto regularly directs from the violin and engages with performers across the artistic spectrum, with unique collaborations including the juggler Jay Gilligan and the folk musician Sam Amidon. Finnish traditional music serves as a source of inspiration, greatly influen- cing his approach to the violin. Kuusisto is artistic director of award-winning ‘Our Festival’,...
more
Described by The Guardian as ‘a violinist whose rare gift is to become rather than perform the music he plays’, the Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto is internatio- nally renowned for his fresh approach to the repertoire. An advocate of new music, Kuusisto premiered Sebastian Fagerlund’s Violin Concerto and regularly collab- orates with composers such as Nico Muhly and Thomas Adès.
In addition to his performances as a concerto soloist, Kuusisto regularly directs from the violin and engages with performers across the artistic spectrum, with unique collaborations including the juggler Jay Gilligan and the folk musician Sam Amidon. Finnish traditional music serves as a source of inspiration, greatly influen- cing his approach to the violin.
Kuusisto is artistic director of award-winning ‘Our Festival’, based in Järven- pää, Sibelius’s home town. He is a recipient of the Nordic Council Music Prize, and his residencies have included the Aldeburgh Festival and the Robeco Zomer- concerten of Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. He plays a Giovanni Battista Gua- dagnini violin of 1754 kindly loaned by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

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Composer(s)

Felix Mendelssohn

Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn is often compared to Mozart. Both of them were child prodigies, both had a talented sister and they both died at a young age. Mendelssohn, who as a child also painted wrote poetry, was born in small family which converted to christianity from judaism. As a composer he preferred looking back, rather than forward: his main examples were Bach, Handel and Mozart. It was Mendelssohn who retrieved Bach from oblivion and pushed for a revival of his music, which still lasts today. One century after its premier, Mendelsson performed the St Matthew Passion for the second...
more

Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period.

Mendelssohn is often compared to Mozart. Both of them were child prodigies, both had a talented sister and they both died at a young age. Mendelssohn, who as a child also painted wrote poetry, was born in small family which converted to christianity from judaism. As a composer he preferred looking back, rather than forward: his main examples were Bach, Handel and Mozart. It was Mendelssohn who retrieved Bach from oblivion and pushed for a revival of his music, which still lasts today. One century after its premier, Mendelsson performed the St Matthew Passion for the second time ever, in 1829.

Three years, earlier, on his 17th, he had already composed his masterfully overture A midsummer night's dream op. 21, based on Shakespeare's play. Today, it is still considered as one of the absolute masterpieces in all of the orchestra reperoire. His Violin Concerto op. 64 belongs to the most beautiful works of the 19th century as well. During his travels through Europe, he wrote his brilliant Italian Symphony, Scottish Symphony and the overture The Hebrides.

Although Mendelssohn had a prosperous career, his weak physique made him emotionally vulnerable. The death of his favourite sister Fanny became fatal: Mendelssohn died in the same year, at the age of 38.


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Press

GREAT INTERPRETERS:: Martha Argerich, Hervé Niquet, Pieter Wispelwey, Zubin Mehta, Menahem Pressler
Classic Voice, 02-1-2018

An imaginative programme of chamber and choral music, designed to highlight links between them, is capped by a superb Second Piano Trio.
BBC Music Magazine, 02-1-2018

A special combination that highlights two sides of Mendelssohn.
Luister, 01-12-2017

Play album Play album
01.
Der 2. Psalm op.78 nr 1: Warum toben die Heiden MWV B41
05:50
(Felix Mendelssohn) Flemish Radio Choir, Pieter Wispelwey, Alasdair Beatson, Pekka Kuusisto, Flemish Radio Choir
02.
Kyrie eleison MWV B57
01:13
(Felix Mendelssohn) Flemish Radio Choir, Pieter Wispelwey, Alasdair Beatson, Pekka Kuusisto, Flemish Radio Choir
03.
Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe MWV B57
03:56
(Felix Mendelssohn) Flemish Radio Choir, Pieter Wispelwey, Alasdair Beatson, Pekka Kuusisto, Flemish Radio Choir
04.
Pianotrio nr 2 op.66 MWV Q33: Allegro energico e con fuoco
09:55
(Felix Mendelssohn) Flemish Radio Choir, Pieter Wispelwey, Alasdair Beatson, Pekka Kuusisto, Flemish Radio Choir
05.
Pianotrio nr 2 op.66 MWV Q33: Andante espressivo
06:29
(Felix Mendelssohn) Flemish Radio Choir, Pieter Wispelwey, Alasdair Beatson, Pekka Kuusisto, Flemish Radio Choir
06.
Pianotrio nr 2 op.66 MWV Q33: Scherzo. Molto allegro quasi presto
03:37
(Felix Mendelssohn) Flemish Radio Choir, Pieter Wispelwey, Alasdair Beatson, Pekka Kuusisto, Flemish Radio Choir
07.
Pianotrio nr 2 op.66 MWV Q33: Finale. Allegro appassionato
07:27
(Felix Mendelssohn) Flemish Radio Choir, Pieter Wispelwey, Alasdair Beatson, Pekka Kuusisto, Flemish Radio Choir
08.
Richte mich, Gott op.78 nr 2 MWV B46
03:22
(Felix Mendelssohn) Flemish Radio Choir, Pieter Wispelwey, Alasdair Beatson, Pekka Kuusisto, Flemish Radio Choir
09.
Heilig ist der Gott Zebaoth MWV B57
01:27
(Felix Mendelssohn) Flemish Radio Choir, Pieter Wispelwey, Alasdair Beatson, Pekka Kuusisto, Flemish Radio Choir
10.
Jauchzet dem Herrn, alle Welt op.69 nr 2 MWV B45
05:38
(Felix Mendelssohn) Flemish Radio Choir, Pieter Wispelwey, Alasdair Beatson, Pekka Kuusisto, Flemish Radio Choir
11.
Adagio from Sonata for cello and piano op.58 MWV Q18
05:03
(Felix Mendelssohn) Flemish Radio Choir, Pieter Wispelwey, Alasdair Beatson, Pekka Kuusisto, Flemish Radio Choir
show all tracks

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