CD of the Month: Vive la Différence

Vive la Différence | Anthony Robb flute, Jeremy Polmear oboe, Michael Bell piano

Oboe Classics CC2035

Vive la Différence compares the music of mid-20th century Britain and France. The music coming from the two countries at the time was in great contrast.

In France, firstly the movement of French impressionism, at its height with Debussy and Ravel. Later followed by the innovations of, among others, Satie and Stravinsky. Meanwhile, Britain had a resurgence of English music, this followed a period of quiet from English composers. Parry and Stanford began and paved the way for the likes of Elgar and Vaughan-Williams.

The Delightful surprise on this album is Lili Boulanger’s D’un Matin de Printemps in a new arrangement for flute (piccolo), oboe (cor anglais) and piano. This symphonic poem is one of the final completed works by Boulanger. The dynamics and performance notes were later added by her sister Nadia Boulagner, the acclaimed teacher posthumous.

“The performances on this disc are delightful; subtle, intelligent and idiomatic. The individual playing is notable for the excellence of the accompanying at least as much for the panache of the solo playing. As an ensemble, they convey a real sense of enjoyment of the music and pleasure in each other’s performance, capturing perfectly the kaleidoscope that is the Damase, the exuberance of the Boulanger, the Spanishness of the Ibert, the quirkiness of the Jacob and the unaffected lyricism of the Naylor.” Christopher Hooker, Double reed news

Available to purchase in our London Showroom and on our website; https://www.howarth.uk.com/pic.aspx?vid=264430