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Dundonnell
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« on: May 12, 2019, 10:34:57 pm » |
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The more Sutermeister I hear the more I am impressed by him as a composer!
The new Toccata disc is a delight from start to finish. "Die Alpen" could do without the spoken narration but the orchestral writing is sumptuous. The last movement contains a magnificent depiction of the mountains in all their fabulous glory but closes with wonderful horns evoking alpenhorns at dusk.
Sutermeister's music is entirely tonal and actually remarkably beautiful. Above all it is distinguished by its sensibilities to a 20th century romanticism which reminds me of composers like RVW (although Sutermeister is not a Swiss Vaughan Williams the "Aubade pour Morges" would be enjoyed by any lovers of the English composer!) or Ravel. The Divertimento No.2 is exceptionally fine- yes, influenced by Poulenc and Honegger but with a refined, stateliness which I find incredibly appealing. There are no "rough edges", there is no asperity, just music of genuine taste, beauty and distinction. It does not relapse into any kind of self-indulgent, "easy romanticism", but confidently asserts a mid-20th century version which entitles Sutermeister to be rescued from neglect, indeed almost total anonymity outside his native Switzerland.
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