Frank Martin - Christian Poltéra plays Frank Martin

Information

Composer: Frank Martin

• Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
• Ballade for Cello and Piano
• 8 Preludes for Piano

Christian Poltéra, cello

Malmö Symphony Orchestra

Tuomas Ollila-Hannikainen, conductor

Kathryn Stott, piano

Date: 2007

Label: BIS

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Review

A wonderful performance of a noble work advances the Martin cause

Many music lovers will not have been exposed to much of Frank Martin’s music, and that includes me. So I was quite bowled over in discovering the Cello Concerto, so eloquently and sensitively played here. It is no exaggeration to state that this rapt performance presents this noble concerto with an inspirational intensity to compare with the celebrated Du Pré/Barbirolli recording of the Elgar Concerto. The works share a similar deep, poignant, meditative feeling, although Martin’s concerto also has a distinct valedictory character, expressive melancholy which suggests personal loss.

The soloist opens with a gloriously lyrical theme which is to dominate the movement (commentators have likened it to Vaughan Williams). A skittish development is in tarantella rhythm with bolder clashes of angry dissonance but at the close comes the balm of the return of the ravishing opening material. Unexpectedly, the touching central Adagietto is in the form of a passacaglia. This sadness is all but dispelled in the brilliantly rhythmic finale, yet the lyricism creeps back and even the tarantella returns briefly before the close.

The (much earlier) Ballade is a free fantasia-like dialogue between cello and piano, Kathryn Stott and Christian Poltéra enjoying a perfect partnership. Martin dallied with Schoenberg’s 12-note system and he uses it in the Eight Preludes. But he had no intention of giving up tonality, and the result is a stunning set of great variety and resource, thrillingly played by Stott.

This disc, given state-of-the-art recording – the piano sound is among the most realistic I’ve heard – makes an ideal introduction to Martin’s music; it will surely be one of my 2008 Critic’s Choices. And I hope the Cello Concerto will find its way regularly into the concert hall, just as Barber’s Violin Concerto has done.

-- Ivan March, Gramophone

More reviews:

ClassicsToday  ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2008/apr08/Martin_Poltera_BISCD1637.htm

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/apr/18/classicalmusicandopera4

https://www.allmusic.com/album/christian-polt%C3%A9ra-plays-frank-martin-mw0001863207

https://www.thestrad.com/martin-cello-concerto-ballade-for-cello-eight-preludes-for-piano/3702.article

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Frank Martin (15 September 1890 – 21 November 1974) was a Swiss composer, who lived a large part of his life in the Netherlands. Martin's music was often inspired by his Christianity. The Petite Symphonie Concertante of 1944/45 made Martin's international reputation, and is the best known of his orchestral works, as the early Mass is the best known of his choral compositions, and the Jedermann monologues for baritone and piano or orchestra the best known of his works for solo voice. Martin's music is widely performed in continental Europe, and to a much lesser extent, in the United Kingdom.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Martin_(composer)

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Christian Poltéra (born 1977 in Zurich, Switzerland) is a Swiss cellist. He studied cello with Nancy Chumachenko, Boris Pergamenschikow and Heinrich Schiff. During his student years Poltéra was already drawing notice as a soloist, and by the turn of the new century he was regarded among the most talented young Swiss cellists. He regularly appears as soloist with leading orchestras and has collaborated in chamber music with artists such as Mitsuko Uchida and Gidon Kremer. Poltéra has recorded for various labels, including BIS, Chandos, DG, and Naxos. Poltéra plays a 1675 Antonio Casini cello.

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/christian-polt-eacute-ra-mn0001691728/biography

http://www.christianpoltera.com/

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