Various Composers - Masterworks for Flute and Piano Vol. 1 (Sharon Bezaly; Ronald Brautigam)

Information

• (01) Sergei Prokofiev - Sonata in D major, Op. 94
• (05) Franz Schubert - Variations in E minor on the song 'Trockne Blumen', D 802
• (14) Henri Dutilleux - Sonatina
• (15) André Jolivet - Chant de Linos

Sharon Bezaly, flute
Ronald Brautigam, piano

Date: 2006
Label: BIS Records
https://bis.se/performers/bezaly-sharon/bezaly-and-brautigam-masterworks-for-flute-and-piano

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Review

Emotional and brilliant, Bezaly delivers a fine disc

The glowing richness of Sharon Bezaly’s tone is immediately striking. It may be something of an acquired taste compared to the greater coolness of many of her contemporaries but it proves seductive in this enterprising programme. The Schubert Variations take as their theme the tragic ‘Trockne Blumen’ from Die schöne Müllerin. Outwardly this is an unlikely choice for a set of virtuoso variations but it’s far from the vapid fripperies beloved of many a third-rate 19th-century composer, with Schubert brilliantly transforming his original, to end in a triumphant blaze of light. Bezaly is most persuasive, avoiding the sense that this is a mere technical showpiece in even the most note-heavy variations.

The Prokofiev Sonata, here reclaimed for the flute, is light and fast on its feet. There are more dramatically contrasted readings around – Emmanuel Pahud for instance – but none that offers more scintillating brilliance. Bezaly is particularly effective in the Scherzo, taken at lightning speed, with the upward glissandi impeccably played, while she makes much of the exoticism of the sinuous middle section. In the Andante she plays the throaty seductress to perfection. Throughout, Brautigam is an unobtrusively supportive partner, less overt than Kovacevich for Pahud in the Prokofiev.

The Dutilleux Sonatina dates from the same year (1943) and is a tightly knit three-movement structure originally designed as a test piece for the Paris Conservatoire. The composer has long dismissed it but it’s easy to hear why it remains so popular among flautists, especially in this intensely felt performance, Bezaly darting from bar to bar in the animé finale, as if eluding capture. For me, Pahud reigns supreme here, making more of the Sonatina’s other-worldly tonal qualities. This is something he also emphasises in Jolivet’s Chant de Linos, which has a more simple beauty in Bezaly’s hands. Overall, though, a fine disc, matched by ideally warm SACD sound.

-- Harriet Smith, Gramophone

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Sharon Bezaly (born 1972) is a flutist. Bezaly was born in Israel, but lives presently in Sweden. She has been an international star since 1997, when she began her solo flute career. She made her solo debut at 13 with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic, and has appeared with leading symphony and chamber orchestras in Japan, China, Israel, Central and Western Europe, England, North and South America, Australia and Scandinavia. Her flute was made by Muramatsu Flutes out of 24-karat gold. Bezaly has released 24 award-winning CDs with the Swedish record company BIS.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Bezaly
http://sharonbezaly.se/

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Ronald Brautigam (born 1954) is a Dutch concert pianist, best known for his performances of Beethoven's piano works on the fortepiano. Born in Amsterdam, Brautigam studied with Jan Wijn and left to study in London and in the United States. A student of the legendary Rudolf Serkin, he performs regularly with leading orchestras and conductors. Besides his performances on modern instruments, Brautigam has established himself as a leading exponent of the fortepiano. His discography of over 60 recordings so far includes the complete works of Mozart and Haydn on fortepiano.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Brautigam
http://www.ronaldbrautigam.com/

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