佳佳唱片

斯卡爾科塔斯:小提琴,鋼琴複協奏曲及其他作品集
拜倫·菲迪茲 指揮
雅典愛樂管弦樂團

This programme of previously unrecorded works illustrates a highly distinctive aspect of Nikos Skalkottasas a composer: The ‘neoclassical’ Skalkottasgoes hand in hand with the ‘national’ and the ‘modernist’ composer, the common denominators being perfect architecture of form, harmonic refinement and skilful orchestration. The opening Sinfoniettain B flat majoris a typical example of the composer’s ‘neoclassical’ side. In four movements and with a duration of 25 minutes, it was written in 1948, during Skalkottas’sfinal years. It is followed by the Suite for Violin and Chamber Orchestraand the Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra, examples of the composer’s atonal idiom. Both works were among the many that disappeared after the composer left Berlin in 1933.
The remaining pieces demonstrate Skalkottas’sinvolvement with the project of exploring the traditional music of Greece. The Cretan folk song Digenésin his Last Agonywas transcribed and harmonized by Skalkottas–for this release a recording from 1930 of the voice of EleftheriosVenizelos, the Greek Prime Minister at the time, has been superimposed over the newly recorded orchestral accompaniment. The two Marchesare original compositions, but follow Greek models, while the Nine Dancesare Skalkottas’sorchestrations of published folk songs. Simple and functional, they are in no way reminiscent of his great work, the 36 Greek Dancesfor large orchestra, but still reveal the composer’s refined aesthetic approach. In a labour of love, the music is performed by conductor Byron Fidetzisand violinist Georgios Demertzis, who have both made important contributions to the Skalkottasdiscography, as well as pianist VassilisVarvaresosand the Athens PhilharmoniaOrchestra, making their first appearance on BIS.

Nikos Skalkottas (1904—49)
1—4 ) Sinfonietta in B flat major (1948) 25'21
5—9 ) Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra (1930) 11'00
orchestration: Yannis Samprovalakis
10—13 ) Suite for Violin and Chamber Orchestra (1929) 8'17
orchestration: Yannis Samprovalakis
14 ) Digenés in his Last Agony 2'26
Cretan folk song, transcribed by Nikos Skalkottas c. 1935 Recording of the voice of Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos made in 1930
15—25 ) Two Marches and Nine Greek Dances 21'23
for the Lyceum Club of Greek Women (1946—47)
TT: 69'53
Georgios Demertzis violin · Vassilis Varvaresos piano Eleftherios Venizelos voice (historical recording, track 14)
Athens Philharmonia Orchestra Byron Fidetzis conductor