Jacques Ibert - Works for Winds (Ensemble Initium)

Information

Composer: Jacques Ibert

• Capriccio
• Trois Pièces brèves
• Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre d’instruments à vents
• Deux Mouvements
• Deux Stèles orientées
• Cinq Pièces en trio
• Le Jardinier de Samos

Henri Demarquette, cello

Karine Deshayes, mezzo-soprano

Ensemble Initium

Clément Mao-Takacs, direction

Date: 2014

Label: Timpani

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Review

Jacques Ibert’s music is the very epitome of French style, with its ‘elegance, lightness, tonal perfection, a dash of insolence and a chronic triviality of inspiration’ (Jacques Tchamkerten’s booklet essay). Although much of this music is far from serious, the Capriccio (perhaps the finest work here) has a delicate touch of nostalgia at its centre, which balances the bonhomie of the rollicking opening and closing allegros. The first of the Trois Pièces brèves which follow skips in infectiously on the woodwind; the Andante is gently melancholy but high spirits return in the engagingly piquant finale. The Cello Concerto, impressively played by Henri Demarquette, is introduced with a brief ‘Pastorale’ before the soloist dominates the central ‘Romance’ with an accompanied cadenza, then the finale bustles away headily.

The Deux Mouvements move from relaxed charm to Assez vit et rythmé, followed by the captivating miniature duet for soprano voice and flute, Deux Stèles orientées, based on the oriental poems of Victor Segalen. This is delightfully sung here by Karine Deshayes with Edouard Sabo the flautist. The Cinq Pièces en trio (oboe, clarinet and bassoon) show Ibert at his most engaging. The collection ends appropriately with the most complex work here, Le jardinier de Samos, scored for flute, clarinet, trumpet, tambourine, violin and cello, which ends the concert with great flair but is the least interesting work melodically. However, like the rest of the programme, the playing is polished, alive and sensitive, and the recording cannot be faulted. A disc well worth having.

-- Ivan March, Gramophone

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Jacques Ibert (15 August 1890 – 5 February 1962) was a French composer. Ibert studied at the Paris Conservatoire and won its top prize, the Prix de Rome, at his first attempt, despite studies interrupted by his service in World War I. Ibert pursued a successful composing career, writing seven operas, five ballets, incidental music for plays and films, songs, choral works, and chamber music. He is probably best remembered for his orchestral works including Divertissement (1930) and Escales (1922). Ibert did not attach himself to any of the prevalent genres of music of his time, and has been described as an eclectic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Ibert

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Founded in 2005 at the Paris Conservatory in the chamber music class of Maurice Bourgue, the Ensemble Initium is above all a wind octet of young professional musicians who furthered the practice of their instruments with the best present-day representatives of the French schools of woodwind and brass, including Jacques Tys, Pascal Moragues, André Cazalet, Marc Trenel, Gilbert Audin, Daniel and Michel Arrignon. The ensemble recorded for Timpani chamber music of George Inslow, Albéric Magnard, Charles Koechlin, Jacques Ibert, Reynaldo Hahn and André Caplet.

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