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Tomasi: Complete Violin Works / Moraly, David, Billard, Republican Guard Orchestra
Naxos

Tomasi: Complete Violin Works / Moraly, David, Billard, Republican Guard Orchestra

$19.99

Details

Composer
Henri Tomasi
Artist
Stephanie Moraly, Romain David, Sebastien Billard
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Sep 09, 2022
Catalog #
8579091
UPC
747313909179

About

Henri Tomasi’s violin works are little known but they offer a compact insight into the direction of French 20th-century composition. The Violin Concerto ‘Périple d’Ulysse’ is a late work, by turns alluring, tragic and violent, conveyed through rhapsodic virtuosity and a rich sense of color. The Capriccio is full of elegance and refinement with emotional intensity in its slow movement and brilliance in its finale. Chant hébraïque conjures up Orientalist motifs while the sequence of early works for violin and piano reference Tomasi’s Corsican heritage and evoke quasi-cinematic exoticism.

REVIEW:

The most substantial work on the disc is 1962's Violin Concerto ‘Periple d’Ulysse’ (Ulysses’ Journey). Cast in four movements it’s a veritable tour-de-force for the soloist, demanding a virtuoso technique of the highest order. The work is brilliantly scored; Tomasi’s colorful orchestration is impressive by any standards. It’s highly rhapsodic, with moments of passionate intensity and drama.

The three-movement Capriccio (1931, rev. 1950) was, in effect, the composer’s first violin concerto. It conveys a distinctly Gallic tone. Once again, Tomasi proves himself a colorful and imaginative orchestrator. Two sprightly outer movements bookend a central Andante, described aptly in the booklet as “a moment of sheer beauty”. Moraly fully savors its glories with a beautiful, rich, ravishing tone. Although only a short piece, the Chant hébraïque, written two years before the Capriccio, is a well-crafted score. It’s gossamer orchestration and exotic flavour are enticing. Stéphanie Moraly is joined by pianist Romain David for the remaining four pieces. All are brief, the longest is just under six minutes.

I have really enjoyed this CD and recommend it wholeheartedly, simply because it ticks all the right boxes. Moraly and David perform these works with distinction. Their playing has precision and panache, and expressive warmth when called for. I admire their sublime musicianship. The recording is top notch.

-- MusicWeb International

Tracklist 12 tracks

  1. 1 I. Pesante marcato e sostenuto - Vivo 03:57
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Pesante marcato e sostenuto - Vivo
    Duration
    03:57
    Composer
    Henri Tomasi
    Performer
    Stéphanie Moraly
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de la Garde républicaine
    Conductor
    Sébastien Billard
  2. 2 II. Allegro 06:30
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    06:30
    Composer
    Henri Tomasi
    Performer
    Stéphanie Moraly
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de la Garde républicaine
    Conductor
    Sébastien Billard
  3. 3 III. Andante 05:39
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Andante
    Duration
    05:39
    Composer
    Henri Tomasi
    Performer
    Stéphanie Moraly
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de la Garde républicaine
    Conductor
    Sébastien Billard
  4. 4 IV. Final: Allegro 05:36
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Final: Allegro
    Duration
    05:36
    Composer
    Henri Tomasi
    Performer
    Stéphanie Moraly
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de la Garde républicaine
    Conductor
    Sébastien Billard
  5. 5 I. Allegretto 06:46
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Allegretto
    Duration
    06:46
    Composer
    Henri Tomasi
    Performer
    Stéphanie Moraly
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de la Garde républicaine
    Conductor
    Sébastien Billard
  6. 6 II. Andante 05:50
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    05:50
    Composer
    Henri Tomasi
    Performer
    Stéphanie Moraly
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de la Garde républicaine
    Conductor
    Sébastien Billard
  7. 7 III. Final 05:43
    Track
    7
    Title
    III. Final
    Duration
    05:43
    Composer
    Henri Tomasi
    Performer
    Stéphanie Moraly
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de la Garde républicaine
    Conductor
    Sébastien Billard
  8. 8 Chant hébraïque (Hebrew Song) (version for violin and orchestra) 03:30
    Track
    8
    Title
    Chant hébraïque (Hebrew Song) (version for violin and orchestra)
    Duration
    03:30
    Composer
    Henri Tomasi
    Performer
    Stéphanie Moraly
    Ensemble
    Orchestre de la Garde républicaine
    Conductor
    Sébastien Billard
  9. 9 Tristesse d'Antar (Antar's Sorrow) 04:32
    Track
    9
    Title
    Tristesse d'Antar (Antar's Sorrow)
    Duration
    04:32
    Composer
    Henri Tomasi
    Performer
    Stéphanie Moraly, Romain David
  10. 10 Poème for Violin and Piano 04:11
    Track
    10
    Title
    Poème for Violin and Piano
    Duration
    04:11
    Composer
    Henri Tomasi
    Performer
    Stéphanie Moraly, Romain David
  11. 11 Chant corse (Corsican Song), vocalise-étude (version for violin and piano) 03:30
    Track
    11
    Title
    Chant corse (Corsican Song), vocalise-étude (version for violin and piano)
    Duration
    03:30
    Composer
    Henri Tomasi
    Performer
    Stéphanie Moraly, Romain David
  12. 12 Paghiella, Sérénade cyrnéenne (Corsican Serenade) 05:28
    Track
    12
    Title
    Paghiella, Sérénade cyrnéenne (Corsican Serenade)
    Duration
    05:28
    Composer
    Henri Tomasi
    Performer
    Stéphanie Moraly, Romain David