Hummel Flute & Piano Vol. 2: Music & Scores

Attractive album by the Sánchez-Bagaría duo, which covers music for flute and piano by Johann Nepomuk Hummel, an increasingly recognized composer who lived in a splendid era for chamber music. His style, refined and bold, often creates followers.

Of the opus 5 sonatas, the First It has rich ornamentation, juicy variations and brilliant melodies that never stop branching out; In addition, an original arpeggio of the Andante and a three-note motif in the Finale They round off the inventiveness of this score. The Second It begins with martial motifs, continues with differentiated characters and ends with a Rondo the Polish way whose chorus, so catchy, will delight the listener; and the Thirdthe most inspired, plays with themes where the spirit of Classicism sounds, richly elaborates the harmony and offers a lyricism of its own. Adagio cantabile worthy of a solo concerto. For their part, the Variations on a theme by Méhul They are a masterpiece that goes from low to high naturally, exploits the possibilities of rhythm and ornamentation and even evokes dance halls with the piano. The favorite waltzshort score, is written very precisely.

The flutist Eduard Sánchez and the pianist Enrique Bagería are accomplished performers who offer us optimal quality: extremely natural articulation, grace notes in their total state of grace, extensive development of movements and perfect dynamic study, where a crescendo o o decreasing they touch up the beauty of a scale. We highlight the Finale from opus 5 no. 1, addressed with a masterful speech; he Andantino with expression of the Secondwhich differentiates suspended topics (in piano) and hot (in forte); and the Allegro moderato of the Thirdwhere the performers polish the music measure by measure to offer us an anthology version. The Variations on a theme by Méhul They constitute a superb work of technique and sensitivity.

Here is a magnificent opportunity for lovers of chamber music. Hummel is a highly recommended composer who has always opened horizons in classical-romantic language.

By Marco Antonio Molín Ruiz