crescendo - the classical magazine February/March 2004

31 Franz Schubert (arr.Breuer): Arpeggione-Sonata/ Mussorgskij (arr.Linckelmann): Pictures at an Exhibition

This CD offers a new view of two wellknown compositions. Herbert Breuer succeeds 90% percent of the time to create the illusion of a genuine Schubertian wind composition, so that one occasionally believes to be listening to an unknown chamber music work of the Viennese master. Many details which perhaps are not so obvious in the original piano part become clearly audible. Geringas plays the extremely difficult cello part with ease and passion. The individual and collective virtuosity of the players of the Wind Quintet of the Staatskapelle Berlin dominates the Mussorgskij arrangment. The movements in Linckelmann's arrangmnet vary in effictiveness. However, as a whole the transcription is well worth listening to, provided it is played by musicians of this caliber.
CMS
Geringas, Bläserquintett der Staatskapelle Berlin, Grabner, Haase. Sony Classical 513858-2

 

Newspaper WAZ - Kultur in Essen - 9-25-2002

Berliners Open the Season

The Bäserquntett der Staatskapelle Berlin gave the first Zollvereinskonzert of the new season on Schacht Zwölf with works by Mozart, Barber, Arnold, and Mussorgsky.
Only a small audience came to the opening of the season to the Zollvereinskonzert series. This was very regrettable in light of the artistic caliber of the wind ensemble of the Staatskapelle Berlin. Thomas Beyer, flute, Gregor Witt, oboe, Heiner Schindler, clarinet, and Axel Grüner, bassoon, were beautifully in sync with each other during the quintet in c-minor (KV 406) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Heroically serious resounded the first movement, dreamlike the the Andante, canonically strict the menuet, and finally cheerfully relaxed the final variation. Eaqually apt as in this classical work were the young musicians in the interpretation of of Samuel Barber's Summer Music, op.31 and Malcolm Arnold's "Sea Shanties for Wind Quintet" op.4. With their spirited play and superior style, the musicians brought out the individual unique tone of both works. Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, in an arrangement for five wind instruments, were played with impressive sound. The audience showed their appreciation with standing ovations.
Hans Burkardt

 

Newspaper BNN - 9-24-2002

Between Soft Sounds and Expressive Contrast

The Bläserquintett der Staatskapelle Berlin gave a SWR (Southwest Radio Broadcast) concert at the Asam Hall of the Ettlingen Castle
The Bläserquintett der Staatskapelle Berlin, founded in 1994, consisting of Thomas Beyer, flute, Gregor Witt, oboe, Heiner Schindler, clarinet, Ingo Reuter, bassoon, and Axel Grüner, horn, playing together excellently, by invitation of SWR Karlsruhe and the cultural office of the city of Ettlingen, gave in the Asam Hall an enthusiastically received performance. The musicians began with the Quintet in c-minor, KV 406, by Mozart. Playing extremely disciplined, the first movement was very flowing, the andante decidedly warm and soft in tone, and after the finely structured menuetto the ensemble gave each variation of the finale its individual color, ending in a cheerful mood. Open to all musical styles, the quintet followed up with Summer Music op.31 by the American composer Samuel Barber (1910-1981), music which is full of contrasts, very calm in part, and rhythmically poignent in other parts. Here the rhythmical exacting and dynamic elasticity of the quintet were especially apparent. The sassy rendition of the overture to "Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss was not without musical finesse. The five gentlemen possess a great sense for musical humor which was proven in the virtuoso "Three Sea Shanties" by the British composer Malcolm Arnold, born in 1921, which the wind players performed technically superior and with great dramatic enthusiasm. Particularly hilarious was the "Opus number zoo". Luciano Berio's composition of characerizing music to four animal stories, written by Rhoda Levine. The poems, somewhat reminiscend of Ringelnatz, were recited by the players during and inbetween movements. They were about such things as a fox dancing with a chicken, a gray mouse, or the fight between two cats. The fun which the players had immediately transpired to the audience. Even with the last piece of the program, the Quintet No.1 by Jean Francaix, who is known for his light and graceful, often humorous style, the ensemble did not deny itself to playful humor. This dazzeling performance drew rousing final ovations, which were followed by highly impressive encores.
Christiane Voigt