The Nash Ensemble's all-Ravel album is a fitting swan song for the group's founder Amelia Freedman, who passed away in July. The disc brings together the ensemble's take on three large chamber works and Ravel's own two-piano arrangement of La Valse. Alasdair Beatson and Simon Crawford-Phillips are a formidable duo, delivering performances that oscillate between languid elegance and frenetic virtuosity.
As they navigate the twists and turns of Ravel's music, Beatson and Phillips expertly capture the composer's predilection for dramatic contrast. La Valse, in particular, is a masterclass in mood manipulation, with the pair effortlessly conjuring the work's sinister undercurrents alongside its more serene moments.
The album also features the 1905 Introduction and Allegro, a piece commissioned by harp manufacturer to showcase the instrument's capabilities. Lucy Wakeford shines on harp here, but it's the ensemble's overall cohesion that truly impresses – their ability to balance individuality with communal texture is a key strength of this disc.
In performances like the String Quartet and Piano Trio, the Nash Ensemble reveals itself to be an exemplary interpreter of Ravel's music. It's the nuances of colour and tone that make these works sing, as the musicians tease out the intricate patterns and timbres that underpin Ravel's signature style. With this album, Beatson and Phillips have produced a fitting tribute to Freedman – one that will undoubtedly be cherished by fans for years to come.
As they navigate the twists and turns of Ravel's music, Beatson and Phillips expertly capture the composer's predilection for dramatic contrast. La Valse, in particular, is a masterclass in mood manipulation, with the pair effortlessly conjuring the work's sinister undercurrents alongside its more serene moments.
The album also features the 1905 Introduction and Allegro, a piece commissioned by harp manufacturer to showcase the instrument's capabilities. Lucy Wakeford shines on harp here, but it's the ensemble's overall cohesion that truly impresses – their ability to balance individuality with communal texture is a key strength of this disc.
In performances like the String Quartet and Piano Trio, the Nash Ensemble reveals itself to be an exemplary interpreter of Ravel's music. It's the nuances of colour and tone that make these works sing, as the musicians tease out the intricate patterns and timbres that underpin Ravel's signature style. With this album, Beatson and Phillips have produced a fitting tribute to Freedman – one that will undoubtedly be cherished by fans for years to come.
! alasdair beatson & simon crawford-phillips r like made for each other, their perfos are so emotive & expressive 
they bring out the best in ravels music esp the dark & moody bits 
la valse is totes a masterpiece... & lucy wakeford on harp is pure magic 
but wot really impresses me is how cohesive the whole ensemble sounds, its like they r all connected on a deeper level 
anyways gotta give props 2 beatson & phillips 4 makin such an amazing tribute to freeman 
. What I love most about this album is how it captures Ravel's drama & contrast – it's like a rollercoaster of emotions 
. The Nash Ensemble really outdoes themselves here, and Amelia Freedman's legacy lives on in the best way possible 
They totally nail the dramatic contrast thing that Ravel was all about. And La Valse? 
The way they tease out those intricate patterns and timbres in the String Quartet & Piano Trio? perfection! 
... I mean, what's the point of keeping her music alive if it's just gonna be another bunch of chamber works that are gonna be overplayed in concert halls everywhere? 
I've been listening to it nonstop since I got the album – it's a beautiful tribute to Amelia Freedman 
- their chemistry on piano is insane! The way they tackle Ravel's complex pieces, like La Valse, is pure magic 
what I love most about this album is how it captures the ensemble's signature sound - balance between individuality and communal texture is everything 
how do you think Beatson and Phillips are doing as a duo? is it hard to play those big chamber works? 
. It's always the same thing when someone famous dies, everyone's like "oh look, let me celebrate their life through a charity concert" or in this case, a music release that's probably going to break the bank 
. Alasdair Beatson and Simon Crawford-Phillips are decent, I guess, but they're not going to outdo Amelia Freedman's legacy on their own 
. And what's with Lucy Wakeford getting all the attention for harp-ing away in a piece that sounds like it was written specifically for her instrument 
. Still, I suppose if you're into that sorta thing, this album might be alright 
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"The art of music is the art of the soul." - Ludwig van Beethoven 
... the way Alasdair Beatson and Simon Crawford-Phillips just nail the dramatic contrasts in Ravel's music is insane, it's like they're speaking a language that only the composer understood 
. And Lucy Wakeford on harp in the Introduction and Allegro is so underrated, she brings this 1905 piece to life in ways I never knew were possible 
... what I love most about this disc is how it all comes together - individuality shining through while still being this cohesive unit as a whole 
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and i love how lucy wakeford shines on harp in that intro piece it just adds this extra layer of depth to the whole thing 
overall i think its a beautiful tribute to amelia freedman & cant wait to listen to it again 