Christian Poltéra plays Frank Martin

Poltéra delivers an utterly compelling and committed performance, and the Malmö Symphony Orchestra under Tuomas Ollila-Hannikainen provides both sensitive and dynamic support. Stott… gets a... — BBC Music Magazine, April 2008, ***** More…

Release Date: 28th Jan 2008
Catalogue No: BISCD1637
Label: BIS
Length: 65 minutes

BBC Music Magazine

April 2008

Orchestral Choice
Gramophone Magazine

April 2008

Editor's Choice
Penguin Guide

Rosette

Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days

MP3

Contents: MP3320

Martin, F: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra

24:43

$6.30

Malmö Symphony Orchestra
Tuomas Ollila-Hannikainen
Christian Poltéra (cello)
Recorded: June 2007
Recording Venue: Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm, Sweden

I. Lento - Allegro moderato - Lento

8:38

$2.10

II. Adagietto

7:13

$2.10

III. Vivace selvaggio ed aspro - Cadenza - Vivace

8:52

$2.10

Martin, F: Ballade for Cello & Piano

16:48

$4.20

Kathryn Stott (piano), Christian Poltéra (cello)
Recorded: July 2006
Recording Venue: Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm, Sweden

Martin, F: 8 Preludes

23:56

$9.45

Kathryn Stott (piano)
Recorded: July 2006
Recording Venue: Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm, Sweden

No. 1. Grave - Plus anime - Grave - Andante - Grave

3:42

$1.05

No. 2. Allegretto tranquillo

1:26

$1.05

No. 3. Tranquillo ma con moto

2:15

$1.05

Show 5 remaining tracks for Martin, F: 8 Preludes

No. 4. Allegro

1:13

$1.05

No. 5. Vivace - Molto vivace - Tempo I

2:02

$1.05

No. 6. Andantino grazioso

1:45

$1.05

No. 7. Lento - Piu espressivo - Con moto - Andante - Tempo I

7:31

$2.10

No. 8. Vivace

4:02

$1.05

Hide 5 tracks for Martin, F: 8 Preludes

CD Quality FLAC

Contents: FLAC44100

Martin, F: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra

24:43

$7.50

Malmö Symphony Orchestra
Tuomas Ollila-Hannikainen
Christian Poltéra (cello)
Recorded: June 2007
Recording Venue: Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm, Sweden

I. Lento - Allegro moderato - Lento

8:38

$2.50

II. Adagietto

7:13

$2.50

III. Vivace selvaggio ed aspro - Cadenza - Vivace

8:52

$2.50

Martin, F: Ballade for Cello & Piano

16:48

$5.05

Kathryn Stott (piano), Christian Poltéra (cello)
Recorded: July 2006
Recording Venue: Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm, Sweden

Martin, F: 8 Preludes

23:56

$11.25

Kathryn Stott (piano)
Recorded: July 2006
Recording Venue: Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm, Sweden

No. 1. Grave - Plus anime - Grave - Andante - Grave

3:42

$1.25

No. 2. Allegretto tranquillo

1:26

$1.25

No. 3. Tranquillo ma con moto

2:15

$1.25

Show 5 remaining tracks for Martin, F: 8 Preludes

No. 4. Allegro

1:13

$1.25

No. 5. Vivace - Molto vivace - Tempo I

2:02

$1.25

No. 6. Andantino grazioso

1:45

$1.25

No. 7. Lento - Piu espressivo - Con moto - Andante - Tempo I

7:31

$2.50

No. 8. Vivace

4:02

$1.25

Hide 5 tracks for Martin, F: 8 Preludes

Hi-Res FLAC

Contents: FLAC44100_24

Martin, F: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra

24:43

$11.10

Malmö Symphony Orchestra
Tuomas Ollila-Hannikainen
Christian Poltéra (cello)
Recorded: June 2007
Recording Venue: Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm, Sweden

I. Lento - Allegro moderato - Lento

8:38

$3.70

II. Adagietto

7:13

$3.70

III. Vivace selvaggio ed aspro - Cadenza - Vivace

8:52

$3.70

Martin, F: Ballade for Cello & Piano

16:48

$7.35

Kathryn Stott (piano), Christian Poltéra (cello)
Recorded: July 2006
Recording Venue: Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm, Sweden

Martin, F: 8 Preludes

23:56

$16.65

Kathryn Stott (piano)
Recorded: July 2006
Recording Venue: Nybrokajen 11, Stockholm, Sweden

No. 1. Grave - Plus anime - Grave - Andante - Grave

3:42

$1.85

No. 2. Allegretto tranquillo

1:26

$1.85

No. 3. Tranquillo ma con moto

2:15

$1.85

Show 5 remaining tracks for Martin, F: 8 Preludes

No. 4. Allegro

1:13

$1.85

No. 5. Vivace - Molto vivace - Tempo I

2:02

$1.85

No. 6. Andantino grazioso

1:45

$1.85

No. 7. Lento - Piu espressivo - Con moto - Andante - Tempo I

7:31

$3.70

No. 8. Vivace

4:02

$1.85

Hide 5 tracks for Martin, F: 8 Preludes

Reviews
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Reviews

April 2008

Poltéra delivers an utterly compelling and committed performance, and the Malmö Symphony Orchestra under Tuomas Ollila-Hannikainen provides both sensitive and dynamic support. Stott… gets a welcome opportunity to demonstrate her own credentials as a soloist, providing an outstanding performance of the Eight Preludes, Martin's most substantial work for piano. All in all, a wonderful disc.

2010

Frank Martin's Cello Concerto, so eloquently and sensitively played here, is a real discovery. 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 fantasialike 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 makes an ideal introduction to Martin's music.

April 2008

Many music lovers will not have been exposed to much of Frank Martin's music… 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/Barbirollo recording of the Elgar Concerto.

18th April 2008

There's a sameness in Martin's cello writing, which all too frequently consists of juxtaposing long, looping melodies with scampering passages in six-eight time or flurried pizzicato arpeggios. Poltéra, committed and subtle as always, can't quite disguise the resulting thinness. The Malmo Symphony Orchestra under Tuomas Ollila-Hannikainen are his laid-back accompanists in the Concerto, while pianist Kathryn Stott joins him for the Ballade. Left to her own devices, Stott also performs the Eight Preludes for Piano dating from 1944. They rank among Martin's finest works and are, ironically, the best things on the disc.

CD

Downloads

Contents: MP3320

Contents: FLAC44100

Contents: FLAC44100_24