*
banner

CD review: Rather Romantic — Beautiful Memories told by the Euphonium

Duo Giovivo
Featuring: Fabian Bloch and Muriel Zeiter
Genuin Recordings: GEN 22791



Although they wrote some of the most beautiful music in the world, the unpredictable course of romance ran like a rickety old roller-coaster ride for many of the great composers.

Complex and difficult men led complex and difficult love lives: Haydn married a woman who he remarked “didn’t care a fig if her husband was an artist or a cobbler”,  whilst Mozart, Berlioz, Franck, Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Strauss and Puccini amongst others, more than found their match in temperament and tempestuousness in their better halves.  

And whilst Robert and Clara Schumann kept a diary with secret symbols to indicate each time they made love, Alma Mahler kept one about her husband that would have kept libel lawyers busy longer than an entire performance run of his symphonies twice over. 

Billet-doux

Much then to ponder as you listen to this engaging billet-doux recoding from the musical coupling of euphonium star Fabian Bloch and his partner and accompanist Muriel Zeiter – although you suspect their romanticism has a healthy basis of admiration and respect.

And whilst Robert and Clara Schumann kept a diary with secret symbols to indicate each time they made love, Alma Mahler kept one about her husband that would have kept libel lawyers busy longer than an entire performance run of his symphonies twice over. 

‘Rather Romantic’ follows their 2022 release ‘Serendipity’, with 17 neatly arranged works from Bach (who had 13 children with his wife Anna Magdalena) and Beethoven (‘who attempted conquests that Adonis would have found difficult’ according to a contemporary) to Faure (who ‘enjoyed’ his numerous affairs) and Tchaikovsky (whose mysterious demise may have been linked to his own love life).  

Some leave a more lasting romantic impression than others: Schumann’s tenderness sits in contrast to the playfulness of Satie and the nocturnal earthiness of Kalliwoda. Beethoven is simply serious, Bach scholastically perfect. 

Trainspotting

Faure’s ‘Berceuse’  is seemingly written with one eye on another conquest, his ‘Sicilienne’,  occupying the other.  Elsewhere, Kreisler enjoys a furtive night out with his ‘Liebesleid’, although Dvorak (who was more interested in trainspotting than his wife and five children at times) lays out his admirations in ‘Lasst mich allein’ like a lovelorn teenager.  

All this and the spectrum of emotions is completed with the sense of tragic emptiness found floating in Tchaikovsky’s ‘Valse sentimentale’  and the untouchable piety of Donizetti’s ‘Ave Maria’.

It's all performed by Bloch with his rich timbre, and Zeiter with her delicate counterbalance refinement, with an osmotic understanding of its passions – aided greatly by keeping the saccharin levels to a minimum.  

Iwan Fox


To purchase: https://giovivo.ch/en/produkt-kategorie/cd-en/

Play list:

1. Meditation from Thais (Massenet)
2. Ich liebe dich (Beethoven)
3. Je te veux (Satie)

4. Nocturne II-IV Op. 186 (Kalliwoda)

7. Adagio cantabile Op.25 (Beethoven)
8. Widmung Op.25 (Schumann)
9. Schafe konnen sicher weiden BWV 208
10. Berceuse Op. 16 (Faure)

11. Liebesleid (Kreisler)
12. Sicilienne Op. 78 (Faure)
13. Die Lotosblume Op. 25 (Schumann)

14. Lasst mich allein Op. 82 (Dvorak)
15. Der Nussbaum Op.25 (Schumann)
16. Vale sentimentale Op.51 (Tchaikovsky)
17. Ave Maria (Donizetti)

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



Contest: Lower Sections 1-4 National Finals

Saturday 13 September • Cheltenham Racecourse, Evesham Road, Cheltenham GL50 4SH


Contest: Lower Sections 1-4 National Finals

Sunday 14 September • Cheltenham Racecourse, Evesham Road, Cheltenham. . *Please note as of 24th August 2023 the date is provisional according to Kapitol Promotions website GL50 4SH


Petworth Town Band - Petworth Town Band at Petworth Heritage weekend

Saturday 20 September • Centre of Petworth Town GU28 OAH


Cheltenham Silver Band - Holst Birthday Concert

Saturday 20 September • All Saints Church, All Saints Road, Pittville, Cheltenham GL52 2HG


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards Big Band

Friday 26 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Epping Forest Band

September 11 • We have a solo horn vacancy to join our friendly 3rd section band. We have a sensible calendar of contests and concerts.. Situated with close links to the M11/M25 and Central line tube station, with our own band room.. Rehearsals Monday night 8-10pm.


Delph Band

September 9 • We are a friendly, hardworking North West 2nd Section band based in Saddleworth. Rehearsal nights are Mondays and Wednesdays, 8-10pm at Delph Band Club. We are currently looking to fill the following positions; Tutti Cornet, Percussion and Eb Bass.


Otley Brass Association

September 7 • Front Row Cornet. -. Otley Brass Band are keen to recruit a 5th member for their front row cornets (position negotiable).. . This is an exciting opportunity to join a thriving band of 30+ players under the leadership of our newly appointed MD, Martyn Beecham


Stuart Black

BA (Hons) Music
Conductor, Teacher, Flugel soloist


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd