Enescu: Concertante Bit 'n Bobs

 

This week, I look at Bits 'n Bobs of concertante pieces by Romanian composer George Enescu, as well as some purely orchestral works.

 

Symphonie Concertante

For a performing virtuoso soloist-cum-composer, Romanian composer George Enescu didn't have much luck in the concerto department from his own pen. His Symphonie Concertante for cello must be the composer's best and most lasting attempt at such a work.

Not only was Enescu a phenom on violin, he apparently was also a fine pianist and learned cello in his teens. To what ability, I have no idea, but I get the sense Enescu became excellent at whatever he put his mind to musically. If the Symphonie Concertante is any clue as to his abilities on cello, he must have been very fine indeed.

The piece might ramble a fair bit, where the cellist receives nary a break during the runtime, yet the textures are far clearer compared to the symphonies, and the journey is always satisfying for this listener. with a musical destination always in sight.

German cellist Alban Gerhardt is featured on the very first volume of Hyperion's Romantic Cello Concerto series. I find little to argue in his performance, ably supported by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under Carlos Kalmar. A more recent recording of the work was covered by Norwegian cellist Truls Mørk on Ondine. I did give that performance a listen as well, and I find little between the two; perhaps a more present soundstage with Mørk, but nothing to write home about.

Aria and Scherzino
Ballade for Violin


The sheer Romanticism of the opening Aria, from Sherban Lupu's orchestration of Aria and Scherzino, utterly sweeps me away. The following Scherzino is a little more square sounding, especially since it includes a major piano part in an orchestration of a violin/piano piece. Couldn't we just have given over more of the piano part to the string orchestra?

The Ballade is a little more substantial, although it doesn't warm me in the same way the aria did. British violinist Charlie Siem seems to find the music just to his liking. What a boon for the young violinist to have an old hand like Oleg Caetani leading the Philharmonia Orchestra here.

In the end, these are two (or three) affable amuse-bouche for solo violin and orchestra. Nothing more.

Concert Overture

Really, I should have listed the complete title as Ouverture de Concert 'sur des Thèmes dans le Caractèe Populaire Roumain'.

Either way, there is a recurring popular Romanian musical idea which pops up, usually with strummed open strings on the violins. Otherwise, the nine-minute overture contains dense, complex textures putting it in line with Enescu's symphonies.

I can't say the piece won me over, as is the case in a lot of Enescu's later compositions, but nor was it off-putting. Certainly the clear Ondine sonics find Hannu Lintu and the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra in good form.

Deux Intermèdes

The Two Interludes (or Two Intermezzi) are a rather lovely diptych for string orchestra. The first is rather unadorned and to the point. The movement increases in chromaticism as it goes on, but is quite straight-forward as a piece. The second Interlude is much more French sounding, with a gentle lapping of waves and slow harmonic motion. This is Enescu in Delius mode, and I can't say I can complain.

Lawrence Foster was a dedicated conductor of Enescu's works. Here he is with the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra instead of Foster's usual Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. No matter, for the sound here is excellent, from the much enterprising Claves classical-music label.

Bits 'n Bobs

Symphonie Concertante, op. 8
  BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
  Alban Gerhardt, cello
  Carlos Kalmar, conductor
  Hyperion; 2005

Aria and Scherzino, arr. Sherban Lupu
  Charlie Siem, violin
  Philharmonia Orchestra
  Oleg Caetani, conductor
  Signum; 2025

Concert Overture, op. 32
  Tampere Philharmonic Overture
  Hannu Lintu, conductor
  Ondine; 2013

Deux Intermèdes, op. 12
  Lausanne Chamber Orchestra
  Lawrence Foster, conductor
  Claves; 1988

Find more Enescu recordings HERE!