Henze: Royal Winter Music

Album review

Like many modern works for the guitar, the two expansive sonatas of Hans Werner Henze's Royal Winter Music were instigated by Julian Bream. But guitarist David Tanenbaum has become their strongest advocate, both in concert and on two important recordings; this 2003 disc from Stradivarius is Tanenbaum's second recording, the first having been released in 1985 by Audiofon; along with numerous live performances to his credit, Tanenbaum can also claim the composer's enthusiastic endorsement of his interpretations. The pieces are cast in identifiable forms associated with the Classical sonata, but each movement is also a study of characters from Shakespeare's plays, somewhat subjectively rendered but perhaps recognizable in mood, if not through any more explicit features. Henze's representations are subtle and rather internalized, so without knowing the titles or descriptions of what the music symbolizes, most listeners will hear the two sonatas as abstract works with angular melodies, strikingly dissonant harmonies, and some novel effects, but with no clear story line or imagery. Tanenbaum's playing is expressive and technically refined, and his feeling for the music seems sincere and completely comfortable despite the tremendous difficulties he faces, especially in the final, frenzied portrait of Mad Lady Macbeth. The reproduction is fine, though a little too soft in some passages.
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