Revolution

Emmanuel Pahud

Revolution
Format
Audio
Published
6 March 2015
ISBN
0825646276783

Revolution

Emmanuel Pahud

Widely recognised as the finest flautist performing on the world stage today, Emmanuel Pahud has joined forces with the Kammerorchester Basel, led by Giovanni Antonini, to record a programme of flute concertos by composers from the time of the French Revolution. The album, which brings together rarities by Christoph Willibald Gluck, Ignaz Pleyel, François Devienne and Luigi Gianella, reveals how the form and the instrument underwent their own musical revolution during this tumultuous period.

For his latest release, Pahud delves once again into the history and evolution of the flute in the second half of the 18th century, following the success The Flute King, his 2012 album of music written for and by the Prussian king and gifted flautist-composer Frederick the Great. ‘Pahud is outstanding…A fascinating snap-shot of the mid-18th century Berlin court,‘ BBC Music Magazine enthused.

Pahud now continues on this path from Frederick the Great to the French Revolution, capturing the drama and excitement of the political upheaval that surrounded what was a golden age in music, particularly for the flute. “For me, this album is about taking you on a journey via three decades of flute concertos surrounding the events of the famous storming of the Bastille in 1789, in what was a rapid transition from Gluck’s musical idiom, shaped by opera and the Baroque - his concerto here embodies Paris before the revolution - to the Romantic and revolutionary ideal that we hear in the music that follows,” Pahud explains.

“In choosing to structure this album around these remarkable concertos, I had the great fortune of having Giovanni Antonini and the Kammerorchester Basel as partners - they defend this music with fighting spirit and a truly revolutionary fervour!”

Review

It’s always very interesting to see what Emmanuel Pahud chooses for the repertoire on his solo recordings. Considered one of the best, if not the best, flautists in the world, he has nothing to prove. He has demonstrated his superiority of technique and musicianship over and over again with his extensive touring schedule and recording catalogue. He can play whichever repertoire is closest to his heart at that moment and in this, his most recent recording, he focuses on music of the French Revolution (hence the name). Although the music is not revolutionary in its own right, Pahud shapes each note and phrase with his usual care and grace. My favourite concerto was hands down the Gluck Concerto in G Major with the distinctive brilliance of Gluck’s melodic repetitive ideas that never seem to get boring, particularly when handled by the likes of Pahud and the Kammerorchester Basel, his partner in the recording studio. They also acquit themselves with aplomb, with the lengthy introductions to each concerto giving you such a sense of completeness it’s almost disappointing when the flute enters. Until you actually hear Pahud play and then all is right with the world again.


Kate Rockstrom

This item is not currently in-stock. It can be ordered online and is expected to ship in approx 4 weeks

Our stock data is updated periodically, and availability may change throughout the day for in-demand items. Please call the relevant shop for the most current stock information. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.