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Label Challenge Classics |
UPC 0608917279320 |
Catalogue number CC 72793 |
Release date 02 November 2018 |
"The fact that the present CD still exudes considerable unity is due to the consistently high quality of the interpretations of the three disparate works, with emphasis on the fine textures in the solo part (Isabelle van Keulen) as well as in the orchestra (NDR Radiophiharmonie). [...] The conductors Andrew Manze (Prokofiev), Keri-Lynn Wilson (Walton) and Andrew Litton (Vaughan Williams) work equally well on the excellent skills of the orchestra."
Klassik.com, 30-1-2021Bijzondere combinatie
Op het eerste gezicht lijkt de combinatie van de stukken op het album misschien wat vreemd. Het is niet vanzelfsprekend om het vioolconcert van een Russische componist te koppelen aan het concert voor altviool van een Engelse componist. Maar niets is minder waar, deze koppeling is juist een heel slim idee geweest van Isabelle van Keulen, die op de altviool net zo goed speelt als op de viool. Het eerste Viool Concert van Prokofjev, dat in 1923 in première ging toen de componist nog in Parijs woonde voor hij terugkeerde naar de Sovjet-Unie, diende als geliefd model voor het altviool concert van Walton, dat in 1929 voor het eerst werd gespeeld door altviolist Paul Hindemith. De overeenkomst tussen de twee werken gaat verder dan de uit drie bewegingen bestaande opbouw langzaam-snel-langzaam, het blijkt ook uit de thema's, de begeleiding en de vorm van het rondo van het virtuoze Scherzo.Een opstijgende leeuwerik tot slot
Dit voortreffelijke album wordt afgesloten met het mooie The Lark Ascending van de Engelse componist Vaughan Williams. Het is de muzikale uitbeelding van een leeuwerik die opstijgt en steeds hoger vliegt. Het stuk is geïnspireerd op een gedicht van George Meredith, geschreven over de leeuwerik en zijn gezang. Vaughan Williams componeerde het stuk oorspronkelijk voor piano en viool maar herschreef het later voor soloviool en orkest. Deze versie werd de bekendste en de meest uitgevoerde van de twee.”Her taut musical intelligence and vivid sound combined with a fine instinct for the tender, searching quality of this music … absolutely magical.” The Guardian
Since her breakthrough in 1984 winning the Eurovision Young Musician of the Year, a competition that was broadcast all over Europe and watched live on television by millions, Isabelle van Keulen can now look back on many years of musical diversity. Not only is it always vital for her to approach the musical score with honesty and with an extremely consious approach to interpretation, she also strives to communicate with her audiences and musical partners, allowing her to perform in an inspirational, lively and enthusiastic manner.
Her versatility lies in the fact that she not only plays the violin, but as well viola with the same energy, performing chamber music in any thinkable combination and directing chamber orchestra performances. Whether in the over 20 year intense collaboration with the Dutch pianist Ronald Brautigam, concerts with mezzo Christianne Stotijn, performing/directing the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, combining violin and viola in one appearance, founding a chamber music festival – from 1997 until 2006 Isabelle van Keulen was Artistic Director of the Delft Chamber Music Festival – giving masterclasses or being a soloist with orchestras such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic or NHK Tokyo. Above all, being faithful to the music is her highest priority.
She has over the course of her career engaged works written by contemporary composers. She had many concertos written especially for her (Theo Loevendie, Erkki-Sven Tüür) and has many other 20th and 21st century works in her repertoire: Concertos by Henri Dutilleux, John Adams, Lera Auerbach, Oliver Knussen and Brett Dean. She also likes to perform less known works by Colin Matthews and Concertos by Krenek, Pettersson and Busoni.
Isabelle van Keulen has made many recordings in the past decades, the most recent ones are Berg Violin Concerto (Chandos), a CD of violin-piano sonatas by Strauss, Nino Rota and Respighi (Channel Classics), Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet with Sharon Kam (Berlin Classics) , Bach’s Goldberg Variations with the Leopold String Trio (Hyperion) and Prokofiev Complete Works for violin and piano with Ronald Brautigam (Challenge, December 2012). In May 2013 a high profile CD with music by Astor Piazzolla was released on Challenge Classics, Tango!, combined with DVD/Bluray and documentary, with the Isabelle van Keulen Ensemble.
Since autumn 2012 she is professor for violin, viola and chamber music at the Luzern University of Arts.
The fact that the present CD still exudes considerable unity is due to the consistently high quality of the interpretations of the three disparate works, with emphasis on the fine textures in the solo part (Isabelle van Keulen) as well as in the orchestra (NDR Radiophiharmonie). [...] The conductors Andrew Manze (Prokofiev), Keri-Lynn Wilson (Walton) and Andrew Litton (Vaughan Williams) work equally well on the excellent skills of the orchestra.
Klassik.com, 30-1-2021
There are myriad subtle insights throughout where she, Manze and the orchestra are in delicious collusion. ...the orchestra shines best in a warm and detailed recording.
The Strad, 25-2-2019
It is nice to be able to compare them, and even better to once again establish that violinist Van Keulen also belongs to the top with the viola. Beautiful. Rating: 9.
Luister, 01-1-2019
Isabelle van Keulen plays it all with ease and contagious enthusiasm, one feels how these three works belong to her favorites.
Jo Cornille, 21-12-2018
Van Keulen is in her element and there is a nice exchange of ideas between the musicians in the orchestra and the soloist.
De Volkskrant, 13-12-2018
Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto and Walton’s Vila Concert are somehow related. Together with Vaughan Williams’s rhapsodic The Lark Ascending they allow the versatile and brilliant Isabelle van Keulen to excel on both instruments. The orchestral performances are exciting as well.
Pizzicato, 05-12-2018
The preference of Isabelle van Keulen, "Music that cracks and scours"
Luister, 09-11-2018