CD REVIEW
–
A
FELIX KLIESER
GOLDEN
WIENER CONCERT-VEREIN
CHRISTMAS
Berlin
Classics 0303074BC [50:55]
Warm hearted music
for the festive period and beyond
from the golden sound of the
French horn, played by the German
born (1991) much-in-demand
virtuoso, Felix Klieser. On this
album he has selected 16 vocal
pieces – traditional songs,
choral works and baroque arias
– specially arranged for his
instrument, from an exuberant Deck
the Hall to the much-loved Stille
Nacht (Silent Night). What
is exceptional about Herr Klieser
is that, having been born without
arms, he plays with the toes of
his left foot, the horn
stabilized by a tripod. No doubt
some readers will have seen or
heard him performing at this
year's BBC Proms.
All the
arrangements are by Wolfgang
Renz, an expert in transposing
classical music for other
instruments, and include two
pieces from J S Bach's 'Christmas
Oratorio', Handel's He
shall feed His flock from 'Messiah'
and Tochter Zion (you
will likely recognize the tune if
not the title), Cantique de
Noël (O Holy Night), Carol
of the Bells, Helmore's Veni,
Veni Emmanuel, Humperdinck's
Hansel und Gretel: Abendsegen
(Evening Prayer) and Adeste
Fideles.
Karsten Bluthgen
points out in his extensive
booklet notes that a good three
centuries of music history are
covered by the album. Other
contributory composers of
attractive melodies, but probably
less well-known, are Buxtehude,
Charpentier and Telemann (all
from the 17th century), Kaminski
and Reger.
There is strong
support for the soloist from the
dozen musicians of Wiener
Concert-Verein – a chamber
group founded in 1987 by members
of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra
– led by Franz Michael
Fischer, concertmaster and first
violin.
Klieser and his
recording company have been very
successful in their intention to
act as a light in dark times with
this release. It is a joyful
listening experience befitting
the season and, although at under
an hour's duration, unreservedly
recommended.
©
Peter Burt, December 2023
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