Forbes Classical CD Of The Week: A Second, Intriguing Take On Max Richter's "Four Seasons Recomposed"

...But the interspersed pieces represent a real bonus: Isang Yun’s Königliches Thema for solo violin on Bach’s “Thema Regium” from his Musical Offering is a fascinating set of variations that takes you, hardly noticeable, on an East/West journey without borders or boom barriers. I had last come across Alfred Schnittke’s Suite in the Old Style for violin and piano when reviewing his film music for “Adventures of a Dentist” and I fall in love with the work every time. Perfectly indicative of Schnittke’s polystylism with its many baroque and classical quotes, Handel and Bach are its subjects. It also reminds of Grieg’s Holberg Suite, but with that ‘melting-sideways’ edge of Schnittke’s. Fullana performs it here with pianist David Fung. The last work ‘between movements’ is by Salvador Brotons, a friend of the performer’s, who does in Variations on a Baroque Theme (a helpfully obscure theme by Mallorcan composer Antoni Lliteres) exactly what you would expect, given the title and its inclusion on this recital. Very charming stuff…

-> Classical CD Of The Week: A Second, Intriguing Take On Max Richter's "Four Seasons Recomposed"

Max Richter, Four Seasons Recomposed et al., “Through The Lens Of Time”, Francisco Fullana (violin), David Fung (piano), City of Birmingham SO, Carlo Izcaray, Orchid Classics