Zádor: Celebration Music

 

If the music of Hungarian composer Eugene Zádor has taught me anything by now, here on Volume 7 from Naxos, the Scotch Snap is not limited to Scotland and the Emerald Isle. No, that particular rhythm has popped up in nearly every volume in this orchestra series, including here in the Hungarian Scherzo.

If there is a Leroy Anderson-esque lightness to the above-mentioned Hungarian Scherzo, plus the titular Celebration Music, such 'light music' is never at the expense of serious music making on the part of Zádor, a firm handle on orchestral colors and compositional structure, not to mention a wonderful sense of tunefulness and wit.

The rest of the program is given over to string orchestra, with no winds or brass to speak of, outside of solo roles in the music. In previous volumes, I have spoken of the ease with which Zádor was able to befriend fellow artists. The two French Horn concertante items on the recording are a result of the friendship between the composer and Barry Tuckwell, a famous hornist found on many excellent recording in ages past.

The Suite for Horn, Strings, and Percussion features the stunning virtuosity a solo horn player would need, such as that from Tuckwell. Here, Zoltán Szőke tackles the difficult solo role with a solidly rounded tone, and no lack of forthright drama. Zádor includes percussion, an inspired choice to the sound of the work, methinks. The short Lullaby for Horn also has Tuckwell entangled in its compositional history, and a lovely piece it is, here orchestrated from its piano accompaniment by conductor Mariusz Smolij.

The Chamber Concerto carries over the sound of horn by adding two horn players to the ensemble, mostly used for string-orchestra coloring, plus a solo piano role. To my ears, there is a certain Gershwin-esque element to this music, probably due to the presence of the piano, yet I think a musical cheekiness and lighter attitude from Zádor contributes as well.

One forgets that certain instruments bear such an unusually wide range that, when gathering a number of the same instruments together, they can create an ensemble all amongst themselves. This includes the range of high, middle, and low registers, solo contributions, accompaniment figures, and harmonic sustenance, all occurring at the same time. So it is in Zádor's Suite for Eight Celli, an ensemble with no other instruments present besides the cello.

Like many, the cello is a favorite string instrument of mine, if nothing else than for its tenor singing quality. Zádor exploits the instrument's qualities to give a satisfactory cello-filled soundworld. The Celli Suite is probably my least favorite of the program, for the composer's musical language is at its most gruff sounding (not unduly so), maybe due to the close cello sonorities, yet I am still fascinated throughout.

Suffice to say, after four string orchestra works back to back, when Celebration Music arrives at the end of the program, one is reminded of how well Zádor handles a full symphonic orchestra, and I missed that colorful quality while away from wind sections for much of the duration of this set of works. That said, how does Smolij keep finding these long, full programs of music from Zádor? I am sure it takes a bit of investigative work on his part, a wonderful advocacy for sure.

As per usual, the Budapest Symphony Orchestra MÁV plays wonderfully throughout, with the fine leadership from Mariusz Smolij we have come to expect throughout this series. Again, I like the Hungaroton Studio sound over the earlier volumes set down in the Magyar Rádió Studios, although the final Celebration Music sounded a little too close. Also, apparently Naxos was becoming tired of mere photographs of the composer, so they have digitally tinkered with Zádor's image for this release, instead of leaving well enough alone.

 

 

 

Works
Hungarian Scherzo (8.02)
Suite for Horn (17.11)
Lullaby for Horn (3.51)
Chamber Concerto (16.28)
Suite for Eight Celli (16.55)
Celebration Music (8.53)

Soloists
Zoltán Szőke, horn
Imre Kováts, horn
Bálint Képíró, horn
Katalin Sarkady, piano

Ensemble
Budapest Symphony Orchestra MÁV

Mariusz Smolij, conductor 

Label: Naxos
Year: 2023
Total Timing: 71.30

 

 

 

Volume 7 has fast become a favorite of mine. Of course, my household is a great fan of the French Horn, so hold my view as one of favoritism.

Yet, I think there is more to it that that, for this recording is highly entertaining, not to mention musically sustaining and nourishing from start to finish.

 

 

 

 

Find more Zádor recordings HERE!