Song of the Black Swan

*****
Excellent disc 28 Dec 2007

I first encountered these performances on Radio 3, where I was impressed by the beauty of line and musicality of the playing by both Blake and Webb. Listening to the whole disc has confirmed these impressions, and given me the great pleasure of an hour or so's utterly charming music.

All but two of the works are arrangements from other sources, including some song adaptations, and the results are sensitive and musically very satisfying. As Webb remarks in her liner notes, the sonorities of the two instruments are "obviously complimentary", yet the two performers have achieved a rich range of textures, dynamics and moods across the 19 tracks on offer. Above all, though, there is none of the aggressive quality which a piano can bring to music in this performance, and the abiding impression is one of calm reflection, even in the more lively pieces.

It is frequently the case that arrangements of famous works are looked at askance by "serious" classical music fans, yet this disc presents works from composers as diverse as Lennox Berkely, Gershwin and Debussy in a new and excellent way.