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Kabalevsky 2nd & Schumann Cello Concertos and Franz Schubert Winterreise
For 50 years, the musical duo Michala Petri (recorder) and Lars Hannibal (guitar/lute) have been among the most renowned ensembles in Danish and international music circles. Early in their career, they were signed to major record labels, releasing over 70 albums. In 2006, they conceived the idea of self-publishing under the name OUR Recordings.
Before long, other artists joined the label, which today remains one of the few Danish labels of its kind. So far, 80 albums have been released, all featuring Danish musicians alongside international artists, often showcasing new Danish music.
The label collaborates with the major company Naxos, ensuring a global reach. This is evident in the highly qualified booklets, which are usually in English.
The two latest releases present, on the one hand, the cello concertos of Kabalevsky and Schumann and, on the other, Schubert’s song cycle Winterreise. The Danish contribution to the former comes from Copenhagen Phil the Zealand Symphony Orchestra, one of Denmark’s five regional orchestras.
The soloist is Norwegian cellist Theodor Lyngstad, and the conductor is Finnish Eva Ollikainen, a typical mix for OUR Recordings, much like the Schubert release featuring Danish bass-baritone Jakob Bloch Jespersen and Israeli-Swiss pianist Sharon Prushansky.
There is a significant difference between German composer Robert Schumann’s cello concerto from 1850 and Russian composer Dmitry Kabalevsky’s concerto from 1964.
The first was written by one of the early “free artists,” while the second emerged from a political reality in which the composer had to submit to the authority of the Soviet state. However, both works are technically demanding and pose expressive challenges, which the Norwegian cellist, now based in Copenhagen, Theodor Lyngstad, masters admirably.
His playing is both precise and dynamic, transparent yet enigmatic, intimate yet highly dramatic. His tone and phrasing are beautifully developed, and his performance is marked by clarity and confidence.
It is rare to see a concert program featuring lieder by Schubert, Schumann, and other German-speaking composers in Denmark, a rich genre that thrives across Europe. The CD featuring Schubert’s song cycle Winterreise helps to fill this gap, not least due to bass-baritone Jakob Bloch Jespersen, whose voice seems tailor-made for Schubert.
He delivers the songs with deep insight and fidelity—expressive without being sentimental, and skillfully managing the dramatic peaks of the longing and sorrowful songs.
An extra highlight of the release is Sharon Pruhansky’s performance on a fortepiano, the predecessor of the modern grand piano for which this music was originally composed. The instrument offers rich expressive possibilities, which Pruhansky utilizes creatively, demonstrating great musical understanding.
Five stars are awarded to both CDs and to OUR Recordings for their dedication and achievement. March 29, 2025 By Evanthore Vestergaard
Original Danish text.29. marts 2025 Af Evanthore Vestergaard -
Kabalevsky 2nd & Schumann Cello Concertos og Franz Schubert Winterreise
Musikduoen Michala Petri, blokfløjte og Lars Hannibal, guitar/lut har i 50 år været nogle af dansk musiks mest anerkendte ensembler i dansk og udenlandsk musikliv. Tidligt blev de tilknyttet store grammofonselskaber, hvor de nåede at udgive over 70 albums. I 2006 fik de idéen til at være selvudgivere under navnet OUR Recordings.
Hurtigt kom der andre kunstnere i stald hos selskabet som i dag er ét af ret få danske af slagsen. Indtil videre er det blevet til 80 albums, alle med danske musikere sammen med udenlandske og ofte med ny dansk musik.
Man samarbejder med det store selskab Naxos og når dermed ud globalt. Dette ses bl.a. af de meget kvalificerede booklets, som regel engelsksprogede.
De to seneste udgivelser præsenterer dels cellokoncerter af Kabalevsky og Schumann, dels Schuberts sangcyklus Winterreise. Det danske islæt på førstnævnte er Copenhagen Phil - Sjællands Symfoniorkester, der er et af landets fem landsdelsorkestre.
Solist er norske Theodor Lyngstad og dirigent finske Eva Ollikainen, et typisk miks for OUR Recordings ligesom Schubert-udgivelsen med den danske basbaryton Jakob Bloch Jespersen og den israelsk/schweiziske pianist Sharon Prushansky.
Der er stor forskel på tyske Robert Schumanns cellokoncert fra 1850 og russiske Dmitry Kabalevskys koncert fra 1964.
Den første er skrevet af én af de første ”frie kunstnere”, den anden ind i en politisk virkelighed, hvor komponisten bøjede sig for overmagten, Sovjetstaten. Men de er begge teknisk krævende og har udtryksmæssige udfordringer, som den norske cellist, i København boende, Theodor Lyngstad, løser forbilledligt.
Hans spil er både stringent og dynamisk, både gennemsigtigt og gådefuldt og både intimt og højdramatisk. Klang og frasering er smukt udviklet og udførelsen præget af overblik og overskud.
Det er sjældent, at man ser et koncertprogram med lieder af Schubert, Schumann og andre tysksprogede i Danmark, en rig genre, der trives godt rundt om i Europa. Cd’en med Schuberts sangcyklus ”Winterreise” råder bod på dette. Ikke mindst på grund af basbarytonen Jakob Bloch Jespersen, hvis stemme er som skabt til Schubert.
Han foredrager sangene med stor indsigt og loyalitet, det er følelsesfuldt uden at være sentimentalt og de dramatiske højdepunkter i de længsels- og sorgfulde sange administreres fint.
Et ekstra krydderi på udgivelsen er, at Sharon Pruhansky spiller på fortepiano, forgængeren for det moderne flygel, som musikken er skrevet til. Instrumentet giver store udtryksmæssige muligheder, som Pruhansky bruger kreativt, hun også med stor forståelse for musikken.
Fem stjerner gives for de to cd'er og OUR Recordings for indsats og resultat.
https://kulturen.nu/musik/cd-kabalevsky/