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CD Review
Matthew Curtis
- Fiesta
- Amsterdam Suite
- Symphonic Suite "Pas de Deux"
- Paths to Urbino
- Two Pieces for Small Orchestra
- Outward Bound
The Royal Ballet Sinfonia/Gavin Sutherland
Campion Cameo 2015 77m DDD
Being a long term lover of the British Light Music genre, I was thrilled to receive this splendidly well-filled and beautifully recorded Campion issue of Matthew Curtis' music, a composer I was quite ignorant of, alas for me!
Curtis (b. 1959) composes with a well felt penchant for soaring, nostalgic melodies that are imbued with a Britishness that is reminiscent of Haydn Wood, Curzon and Fletcher. Yet, his is also an original voice as demonstrated in the lovely, 'Paths to Urbino'. This suite is the highlight of the disc with impressions of the Italian countryside very much recalling Elgar and Charpentier.
With the 'Amsterdam Suite', we are in more rousing territory and again, the fine penchant for melody and craftily constructed tunes is highly apparent. Shorter pieces include the rambunctious 'Fiesta' and the similarly tub thumping 'Outward Bound' which ends the disc in real style. Sutherland has already made a name for himself in this genre and he conducts the pieces with knowledgeable gusto all round. Strongly recommended to all lovers of this inexhaustible genre and a fine advert for Matthew Curtis' originality.
Copyright © 2007, Gerald Fenech
