
CD REVIEWS
DUETS FOR PIANO - SCOTT BROTHERS DUO - SBDRCD002

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Publication: International Piano Magazine
Date: JUNE 2008
Reviewer: Julian Haylock
Duets for Piano - Scott Brothers
Duo - SBRDCD002
There are few piano
duet recordings so beautifully engineered as this exemplary production
from one half of the Scott Brothers, Tom - think Philips Dutch LP pressings
at their velvety, late 1970s analogue best and youll be somewhere
near the mark. All of which would count for nothing if the performances
by brothers Jonathan and Tom were not so sensitively voiced or tonally
beguiling. Somehow they manage to articulate these priceless miniatures
with an ear-tweaking clarity reminiscent of the Kontarsky Brothers,
while at the same time maintaining the kind of seductive cantabile weve
come to expect from the Labèque Sisters in recent years. They
could have let their hair down with greater abandon in the galloping
final section of Rossinis William Tell Overture à la Gottschalk,
but I doubt whether Debussys Petite Suite or Ravels Ma mère
loye have ever sounded more beguiling on disc.
Publication: MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL
Date: 20 JUNE 2008
Reviewer: Jonathan Woolf
Duets for Piano - Scott Brothers
Duo - SBRDCD002
This is the second
disc issued by the youthful Scott brothers on their own label. The first
was a sequence of duos for organ and piano, many of the pieces in arrangements
by Jonathan Scott (see review). This disc obviously differs inasmuch
as this is a recital of piano duos, Jonathan having forsaken the organ
for the piano school. The previous disc was recorded in Bridgewater
Hall in Manchester and this one in Peel Hall, University of Salford.
The brothers certainly like to programme things appositely. A spicy
overture and a rousing finale are the twin brackets of this disc whilst
the central panel contains an intriguing and well-contrasted series
of pieces. We open with the William Tell overture yes, but its
in the sparkling Gottschalk arrangement. With commendably clear, detailed
and well balanced sound this goes well, with an especially good storm.
Debussys Petite Suite cements the affinity the Scott brothers
clearly possess for French music, something they demonstrated in that
previous recital disc. En bateau is played with limpid refinement, and
theres fine élan in Cortège. Bachs Sheep
May Safely Graze (from the Hunting Cantata BWV 208) is heard in
the famous Mary Howe arrangement, possibly the best known recording
of which was by the illustrious duo team of Ethel Bartlett and Rae Robertson.
The Scott Brothers performance is attractive, persuasive and not over
reverent.
It comes as something of a surprise to stumble over Ligeti in this series
of pieces but this is early, fiercely Bartókian Ligeti. The Sonatina
was written in 1950 and at four and a half minutes it hardly outstays
its welcome. The main influence is Mikrokosmos and it exudes an earthy
pungency that is attractive. From Ligeti back to Ravel especially
the Ravel of Ma Mère lOye - is quite a stylistic step.
But the brothers summon up a requisite range of colours, a deft rhythmic
skill and good articulation to do justice to this very different work.
Their ensemble is watertight and they bring a strong sense of characterisation
to bear. Le jardin féerique is especially well and imaginatively
coloured.
Schuberts Fantasie sits at the heart of the programme architecturally.
The brothers are especially well attuned to dynamic variance here and
their vital, energised approach to the works more torrid features
is notable. The Rimsky marks a fun end to a well chosen and highly accomplished
duo recital.
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