Royal Winter Music

Otto Tolonen · Hans Werner Henze · Benjamin Britten

2017 · ABCD 382

Credits

Performers: Otto Tolonen — Guitar
Composers: Hans Werner HenzeBenjamin Britten

About this release

"The album's main piece, Henzen's Royal Winter Music, is made up of character pieces based on characters from Shakespeare's plays. The rhapsodism is only superficial - it's a tight, cohesive piece that lasts an hour and is devilishly difficult to play.
Tolonen and Henze sound like soulmates. Tolonen can play even the densest textures of Henze with immaterial lightness. As a whole, the album feels like a very live and personal concert situation. It's as if Tolonen is calling me exactly, but exactly what he wants. That's what music is like at its best."
Yle Klassinen/Kare Eskola 23 October 2015

Tracks

Royal Winter Music - First Sonata on Shakespearean Characters
1.Gloucestercomp. Hans Werner Henze (b.1926)ISRC FIABA15001726:05
2.Romeo and Julietcomp. Hans Werner Henze (b.1926)ISRC FIABA15001734:03
3.Arielcomp. Hans Werner Henze (b.1926)ISRC FIABA15001747:15
4.Opheliacomp. Hans Werner Henze (b.1926)ISRC FIABA15001753:37
5.Touchstone, Audrey & Williamcomp. Hans Werner Henze (b.1926)ISRC FIABA15001763:30
6.Oberoncomp. Hans Werner Henze (b.1926)ISRC FIABA15001779:46
Royal Winter Music - Second Sonata on Shakespearean Characters
7.Sir Andrew Aguecheekcomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA15001786:24
8.Bottom´s Dreamcomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA15001796:55
9.Mad Lady Macbethcomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA15001809:21
Nocturnal after John Dowland op.70
10.Musinglycomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA15001812:38
11.Very Agitatedcomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA15001820:47
12.Restlesscomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA15001831:46
13.Uneasycomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA15001841:23
14.March-likecomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA15001851:25
15.Dreamingcomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA15001862:12
16.Gently Rockingcomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA15001871:22
17.Passacagliacomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA15001885:02
18.Slow and Quietcomp. Benjamin BrittenISRC FIABA15001893:02

Reviews

Dieci’s performance is remarkable for its sheer beauty, withoutsacrificing anyintensity.
American Record Guide · Kenneth Keaton · June 21, 2017
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”Levyn pääteos, Henzen Royal Winter Music, rakentuu karaktäärikappaleista, jotka pohjautuvat Shakespearen näytelmien hahmoihin. Rapsodisuus on vain pinnallista – kyse on tiiviistä, yhtenäisestä teosjärkäleestä, joka kestää tunnin ja on pirullisen vaikea soittaa.
Tolonen ja Henze kuulostavat sielunkumppaneilta. Tolonen pystyy soittamaan Henzen tiheimmätkin tekstuurit aineettoman kevyesti. Kokonaisuudessaan levy tuntuu hyvin elävältä ja henkilökohtaiselta konserttitilanteelta. On kuin Tolonen soittaisi juuri minulle, mutta juuri sitä mitä itse haluaa. Sellaista musiikki parhaimmillaan on.”
Kare Eskola 23.10.2015 · Yle Klassinen