The works on this disc date from 1982 to 1996 and offer a varied overview of Elliott Carter’s astonishing (and, as of this writing, still ongoing) creative Indian summer. Two larger-scaled compositions, Triple Duo (written in 1982/83) and the recent Clarinet Concerto, bracket seven selections culled from Carter’s latter-day series of short works for small forces. The composer’s complex, jagged rhythmic structures and super-refined textural deployment have long been assimilated into the performing vocabulary of world-class contemporary music practitioners. Not surprisingly, the members of Montreal’s Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, individually and collectively speaking, turn in absolutely first-rate, committed, clearly articulated performances on every level. Not all, though, necessarily supercede earlier recorded versions.
For instance, I prefer the fleeter Ensemble Contrasts rendition of the flute/cello duo Enchanted Preludes (CPO) for its wider dynamic contrasts and more agile contrapuntal interplay, and I’m more impressed with the fluid force Charles Rosen and Ursula Oppens bring to 90 + for solo piano than I am with the admirable pianism Jacques Drouin demonstrates here. On the other hand, Atma’s engineers beef up the Clarinet Concerto’s important percussion parts to more persuasive effect than on DG’s world-premiere recording, and clarinet soloist Gilles Plante’s warmer, rounder tone markedly contrasts to Michael Collins’ drier, more aggressive approach to Carter’s darting passagework. And the Montreal musicians dive into the Triple Duo’s swashbuckling challenges with no less fire and authority than Oliver Knussen’s reference recorded version. Carter fans, old and new alike, won’t go wrong by aquiring this excellent release. [7/27/2002]
