Nikolai Kapustin - Saxophone Chamber Music (clair-obscur Saxophonquartett)

Information

Composer: Nikolai Kapustin

• (01) Quintet for saxophone quartet and piano, Op. 89a (arr. Christoph Enzel)
• (05) Quartet for 4 saxophones, Op. 88a (arr. Christoph Enzel)
• (09) Duo for alto saxophone and cello, Op. 99

Elisaveta Blumina, piano

Peter Bruns, cello

clair-obscur Saxophonquartett

(Jan Schulter-Bunert; Maike Krullmann; Christoph Enzel; Kathi Wagner)

Date: 2020

Label: Capriccio

http://capriccio.at/nikolai-kapustin-saxophone-chamber-music

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Review

Long one of Russia’s best-kept musical secrets, Nikolai Kapustin (b1937) has latterly found appreciation for his distinctly classical take on a jazz pianism that eschews improvisation for rhythmic precision and emotional uniformity. Such an ‘anti-jazz’ approach is evident in his relative paucity of music for or with saxophone, but Christoph Enzel has now redressed the balance by arranging two of Kapustin’s most classically conceived pieces for Clair-Obscur.

Unsurprisingly, the results prove wholly idiomatic. A seasoned instrumentalist and arranger, Kapustin can have had little problem writing for the quartet medium in his String Quartet and Piano Quintet (both 1998), though the ease with which this music has translated from strings to saxophones suggests he may have had half an ear on such a possibility from the outset. Of these works, the Quintet evinces greater cohesion and poise while the Quartet exudes greater expressive impetus; in both instances, the finales impress through their respectively groove-based energy and technical dexterity. The Duo (1999) may be slighter in overall dimensions but is no less idiomatic, its central slow movement betraying unexpected emotional candour.

Given the excellence of Clair-Obscur in all aspects of their chosen repertoire, the conviction of these performances is undoubted, with Peter Bruns and Elisaveta Blumina no less responsive in their contribution. A pity neither of two later pieces featuring alto saxophone was included but, with the added enhancements of vivid sound and informative booklet notes, there is no reason not to investigate this resourceful and appealing addition to the Kapustin discography.

-- Richard Whitehouse, Gramophone

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Nikolai Kapustin (22 November 1937 – 2 July 2020) was a Russian composer and pianist. Kapustin studied piano with Avrelian Rubakh (pupil of Felix Blumenfeld who also taught Simon Barere and Vladimir Horowitz) and subsequently with Alexander Goldenweiser at the Moscow Conservatory. Kapustin was steeped in both the traditions of classical virtuoso pianism and improvisational jazz. He fused these influences in his compositions, using jazz idioms in formal classical structures. Among his works are 20 piano sonatas, 6 piano concerti, sets of piano variations, études and concert studies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Kapustin
https://www.nikolai-kapustin.info/

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With the support of their mentor and teacher, violist Friedemann Weigle of the Artemis String Quartet, clair-obsur has developed into a highly sought after ensemble, playing venues such as the Philharmonie, Berlin and the Carnegie Hall, New York. The ensemble concentrates not only on original works written for saxophone quartet but also greatly expands and enriches its repertoire with transcriptions and arrangements. Clair-obsur have been rewarded for their artistic excellence with prizes in competitions. The four quartet members can also regularly be heard in orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic.

https://www.clair-obscur.de/

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