Paul Juon - Chamber Music (Ensemble Chamäleon)

Information

Composer: Paul Juon

• (01) Rhapsody for Piano Quartet No. 1 in D minor, Op. 37
• (04) Trio-Miniaturen for Violin, Cello & Piano
• (08) Pieces for Violin & Piano, Op. 28: Arioso & Berceuse
• (10) Sonata for Violin & Piano, Op. 7: Romance
• (11) March for Cello & Piano, Op. 8

Ensemble Chamäleon
Jonathan Allen, violin
Bernd Haag, viola
Luzius Gartmann, cello
Madeleine Nussbaumer, piano

Date: 1996
Label: Gallo

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review

Juon was born in Moscow and studied with Taneiev and Arensky. He taught violin and music theory in Baku, Azerbaijan. In 1905 he moved to Berlin and took up teaching duties there at the Music Academy where he rose steadily to considerable eminence in German musical life. Illness forced his resignation in 1934 and he spent his last years in Vevey in Switzerland.

If Richard Flury favoured Schumann and joyous unpretentiousness, Juon, on this evidence, favoured earlyish Rachmaninov with works such as the Cello Sonata, Polichinelle, the Piano Concerto No. 1 and the Chopin Variations being reference points. The Rhapsodie No. 1 is highly romanticised in the early manner of his fellow countryman. At just over half an hour this rhapsody is the most ambitious work on the CD. Juon is ripely tuneful in this music and can turn on the Dvoøákian charm as in 4.34 of the sostenuto finale.

The Trio Miniatures are similarly mellow and romantic almost approaching a Delian afterglow (though Reverie and Elegie are typically Fauré-like titles) offset by the jokey Humoreske. Then comes a Viennese Danse Phantastique recalling, in the intoxication of nostalgia, the ballrooms of Berlin, Baku and Moscow.

The two pieces for violin and piano are from a set published as Vier Stücke. The Arioso is Brahmsian but the Berceuse seems to reach out towards Fauré as also do the Reverie and Elegie from the Miniatures. The Romance for viola and piano is a transcription taken from the op. 7 violin sonata. It, together with the Op. 8 Märchen (cello and piano), is much in the mood of the Arioso and is lovingly rounded by both the violist and the cellist respectively.

A little-known scion of Rachmaninov passionately performed by the Chamäleon Ensemble.

-- Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paul Juon (6 March 1872 – 21 August 1940) was a Russian-born Swiss composer. Juon studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Jan Hřímalý, Anton Arensky and Sergei Taneyev. He also studies at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin with Woldemar Bargiel. During his time in Berlin he was a composition professor, employed by Joseph Joachim. Juon's works include many sonatas, 4 symphonies, 4 string quartets, several piano trios, piano quartets and piano quintets, a sextet, 3 violin concerti, piano works and lieder, as well as a number of stage works. Several of these works have been recorded.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Juon

***

Ensemble Chamäleon was founded in 1990 and has been dedicated to chamber music ever since. Depending on the program, the ensemble either appears in its core line-up as a piano trio, or with additional musicians, either strings, winds or voices. The change is in the program - hence the name "chameleon". Their goal is to perform valuable chamber music from classical to modern eras, in an unusual mix of the known with the unknown repertoire. Current members include Madeleine Nussbaumer (piano, founder), Tobias Steymans (violin, since 2003), and Luzius Gartmann (cello).
https://www.ensemblechamaeleon.ch/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!