CRUMB KALEIDOSCOPE
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Bavarian Radio broadcast, 5 May 2014
Dieter Weberpals, Dizi
Caroline Oltmanns and James Wilding, pianos
Thomas Hastreiter and Wolram Winkel, percussion
Caroline Oltmanns and James Wilding, pianos
Thomas Hastreiter and Wolram Winkel, percussion
Peruse the Score
Review in Fürther Nachrichten, 24 March 2014
A Multifaceted Musical Journey
‘Crumb’s Kaleidoscope’ plays with quotations of classical works
Concert Series ‘Passages’, organized by the Bavarian Radio Station in Collaboration with Stadttheater Fuerth, the ‘Crumb Kaleidoscope’ to promise unexpected listening experiences.
(photo) Flutist Dieter Weberpals and Pianist Caroline Oltmanns showered with applause.
Born and raised in Fuerth, pianist Caroline Oltmanns, a professor at Youngstown State University in Ohio, and pianist (and husband) James Wilding discovered themes of well established classical composers in the works ‘Makrokosmos’ (1973) of US composer George Crumb (84).
Quotations of musical themes of other composers were already usual procedure in the music of the Baroque. The thrill of this evening however was the fact that these thematic relationships are harder to find in the work of a contemporary composer. First off the many patrons of the concert got the opportunity to marvel at the stage set-up of the show.
In the back of the stage an entire battery of various percussion instruments was set up playing equal and important roles throughout the evening, and keeping both highly brilliant percussionists (Thomas Hastreiter and Wolram Winkel) on their toes. The work stations of the two pianists were the concert grand pianos on the left and right sides of the stage. In the center the Nuernberg flute virtuoso Dieter Weberpals played on a Chinese Dizi.
Center stage was however and of course the music offered this evening, which is hard to put into words due to its richness. Charming and much enjoyed brackets between both bookends were the arrangements of the eternal hits of the film classic ‘Casablanca’.
Solo for Gramophone
Following the intermission a Shellac Solo of a prominently positioned gramophone was offered. Focus of the evening remained Crumb’s Makrokosmos.
This cycle offers no formal structure, the music stays however tonally rooted. Quite tumultuous, never shrill, immersing itself in detail, Crumb abducts the listener into magical worlds by use of unusual instrumental techniques. The same holds true for the works of James Wilding. Fascinating especially ‘Bronze Dragons’ with full use of percussion, ‘Moon Setting’ with southern American rhythms and a thunderstorm of both drums, as well as the transitions in form of ‘passages’.
Musical surprises were the interjected and well familiar compositions of Bach, Chopin, Brahms and Faure served with great delicacy by Caroline Oltmanns where Crumb's quotes became audible.
Thunderous applause was rightly offered to all five performers. All were of course outstanding soloists, but never ‘lone fighters’, particularly impressive especially as ensemble. Since Crumb’s quotations were rather hidden at times, perhaps here the motto ‘Play it again, Sam’ does hold true as well. Therefore we recommend highly to listen to the broadcast on May 5 at 8:03 PM in BR Classic."
