Stained Glass
may seem an unassuming outing by young violinist
Johan Dalene
and his accompanist,
Christian Ihle Hadland
. It takes its title from one of a
group of four miniatures
by
Grazyna Bacewicz
and most of the music, with the exception of
Prokofiev
's
Violin Sonata in D major, Op. 94a
, is meditative in spirit. Yet listeners who immerse themselves in
Dalene
's playing may find themselves fascinated.
does not state any concept beyond the diffusing effect of stained glass on light, but this was an image that delighted the Impressionists, and his intent seems to be to trace the Impressionist idea and appreciate its impact on a wide range of 20th century composers. He opens with a violin-and-piano version of
Arvo Paert
Fratres
.
Paert
does not usually come up in the context of Impressionism, but note how smoothly his music flows into
Ravel
Violin Sonata in G major
. It works partly because the
is given quite a restrained performance, with the jazziness of the Blues movement not particularly emphasized. The program proceeds into quiet but rich realms, with a little-known
Nocturne
Lili Boulanger
and the four
Bacewicz
pieces (especially the lovely
title work
) becoming perfect foils for
's delicate violin. In the
, composed in 1943, the outside world intrudes, but just a bit, and
's indebtedness to the Impressionist school is still apparent. With
BIS
engineers providing a perfect low-key environment in a small recital hall at the Stockholm Konzerhuis, this is an album that will leave a lasting impression, and it is a bold, original stroke from a young violinist. ~ James Manheim