NEW • NOUVEAUTE • NEUHEIT 06/14-(5) Andreas Romberg Flute Quintets Vol. 1 Quintets op. 21, 1 and 41, 1+3 Ardinghello Ensemble MDG 603 1843-2 UPC-Code: Five Friends The music of Beethoven and his unfairly neglected mento but the serious form of the string quartet contemporaries forms an important focus in the manifesting itself in Mozart’s masterpieces of this explorations of the faraway sound of the romantic era genre. The two violas produce an earthy sound by the five instrumentalists of the Ardinghello breaking the silvery brightness of the flute and violin. Ensemble. Led by the flutist and committed quester Very much in keeping with the dawning romantic era, Karl Kaiser, the ensemble is now presenting the surprising innovations stamp the music. Just listen to recording premiere of Andreas Romberg’s flute the entry of the hymn “Heil dir im Siegerkranz” in the quintets – most highly individual compositions full of third movement of the Quintet in E minor; it lends an surprises on the threshold of romanticism. unprecedented political significance to the work. Gathering Ground Heavenly Heights The Bonn court orchestra was gathering ground for an On trips to Vienna and London Romberg repeatedly exclusive group of outstanding personalities including met with Joseph Haydn. The grand old master of Ludwig van Beethoven, Anton und Josef Reicha, course profoundly influenced the younger composer’s Franz Anton Ries, and Nikolaus Simrock, who later music. In the slow movement of the Quintet in A minor became a publisher and kept the top compositional Romberg develops Haydn’s melody on “Hin ist alle names under contract. The cousins Andreas and meine Kraft.” The theme shared by the flute and violin Bernhard Romberg, the former a violinist who gained transcends earthly limits; a more beautiful bow to fame with his first compositions and the latter who one’s model, even in departure, would be beyond the went on to become a renowned cello virtuoso, were imagination! And the Ardinghello Ensemble does an also members of this musical circle. Andreas absolutely magnificent job, scoring a genuine coup Romberg’s Das Lied von der Glocke based on with its recording of Andreas Romberg’s three flute Schiller’s magnificent ballad would fill the concert halls quintets. Captured in the best MDG sound, these for centuries. long-forgotten masterpieces experience an impressive revival and make us look forward to their sequel! Serious Stuff The instrumentation of the flute quintets is fascinating Franz Danzi (1763-1826) in itself. While the practice of the times usually called Flute Quartets op. 56 for a string trio to join the flute, Romberg prescribes a Ardinghello Ensemble second viola and takes on the greatest instrumental MDG 605 1791-2 challenge of all. His model was not the light diverti- DABRINGHAUS UND GRIMM AUDIOVISION GMBH • BACHSTRASSE 35 • D-32756 DETMOLD TEL.: ++49-(0)5231-93890 • FAX.: ++49-(0)5231-26186 • www.mdg.de • [email protected] .