John McLeod: Out of the Silence (Delphian)

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The late Michael Kennedy, lifelong Telegraph critic, once told me he lost interest in new music in his late sixties. Michael had known Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten and reckoned their successors were not up to the mark. We argued about the merits of Birtwistle and Turnage but his ears were not for the turning and I respected the candour of his admission.
Myself, around the same age, I am still bi-curious: eager to see what the old hands are doing and keen to hear new sounds coming through. Nothing thrills me more than finding a composer I can love, rare as that may be under present trends of alienation operas and box-ticking diversity. So I am especially happy to report that an hour spent with John McLeod yields rich rewards, both in aural satisfaction and in the affirmation of a strong sense of musical continuity north of the border.
McLeod, 84, as been around for as long as I can remember. In the title work of this album he leads us gently out of darkness into light. A percussion concerto for Evelyn Glennie opens unexpected possibilities, like shavings of dark chocolate on a rich meat dish.
Totally absorbing is a piece titled The Shostakovich Connection, which I assume is based on the Russian composer’s major premieres at the Edinburgh Festival in the 1960s, most vividly the 12th string quartet which weaves in and out of this work, alongside echoes of the fifth symphony.
A set of Hebridean Dances is more imaginative than the title indicates, delicate hints of open reels integrated in a treasurable piece. The Royal Scottish National Symphony Orchestra give zesty performances. Treat yourselves.

This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en: Francais (French)

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About Author

Norman Lebrecht is a prolific writer on music and cultural affairs. His blog, Slipped Disc, is one of the most popular sites for cultural news. He presents The Lebrecht Interview on BBC Radio 3 and is a contributor to several publications, including the Wall Street Journal and The Standpoint. Visit every Friday for his weekly CD review // Norman Lebrecht est un rédacteur prolifique couvrant les événements musicaux et Slipped Disc, est un des plus populaires sites de nouvelles culturelles. Il anime The Lebrecht Interview sur la BBC Radio 3 et collabore à plusieurs publications, dont The Wall Street Journal et The Standpoint. Vous pouvez lire ses critiques de disques chaque vendredi.

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