Remembering Rampal

GALWAY, Homage a Rampal: Francois Devienne - Concerto No. 8 for Flute and Orchestra; Concerto No. 7 for Flute and Orchestra. Domenico Cimarosa - Concerto for Two Flutes and Orchestra. James Galway, solo flute and conductor; Jeanne Galway, flute; London Mozart Players. RCA 63701.

Flutist James Galway calls these recordings a homage to the late Jean-Pierre Rampal, French flutist who, for so many years, headed the list of great performers on that instrument. In a touching introduction to the notes with this disc, Galway says:

"He will be missed by many people whose life he touched. I am very grateful that he touched my life in the way he did and the memory of this extraordinarily gifted, generous and charming man will remain with me always."

And Galway recalls that when, while still a student, he first played for Rampal, the master told the talented, young flutist that he did not need to study the flute any longer and to go out and get a job.

Of course, Galway did just that. He became principal flutist with the Berlin Philharmonic, a position he retained until 1975, when he began his own extraordinary career as a soloist and, as it turned out, an entertainer with such charismatic charm that today he is known the world over.

Galway`s selection of works to honor his idol is unusual, most of all because of their obscurity. And for those who enjoy something they might not be familiar with, this is all to the good.

The music of Francois Devienne (1759-1803) is little known in the United States. As far as recordings of his works are concerned, only this one on RCA is on a major label that would be readily available at United States outlets.

One could say almost the same thing about the music of Domenico Cimarosa (1749-1801), although his obscurity of today was not always so. Cimarosa was one of the most celebrated composers of comic opera in the late 18th century. He wrote dozens of them. His operas are only rarely performed today, and he is but sparsely represented in Schwann`s catalog of classical recordings, Opus.

He also wrote oratorios, masses, keyboard sonatas and a small number of chamber works. It is from these that Galway chose the Concerto in G for Two Flutes and Orchestra (1793) which he performs, together with his wife, Jeannne Galway, herself an accomplished flutist, who performs extensively in the United States and Europe. All of the concertos are delightful, and portray what we have come to think of (sometimes quite erroneously) as a time of quiet, graceful living.

Galway, without any doubt the successor to Rampal, plays with the great artistry we have come to expect from him. Jeanne Galway adds her own considerable artistry. I am impressed by the splendid ensemble the two artists maintain.

In sum, a welcome addition to the discography of both composers and a most appropriate tribute to the great Jean-Pierre Rampal.

BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050. Trio Sonata in G, BWV 1038; Partita in A Minor, BWV 1013; Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067. Emmanuel Pahud, flute; Berlin Baroque Soloists; Rainer Kussmaul, violin; Christine Schornsheim, harpsichord; Wolfram Christ, Tanja Christ, violas; George Faust, cello. EMI Classics 57111.

Speaking of two great flutists leads us into this disc on which we hear Emmanuel Pahud, one of the most prominent of the younger generation of artists on the instrument. Indeed, one could say Pahud is following in Galway`s footsteps: He, too, has been principal flutist of the Berlin Philharmonic, having been appointed to that coveted position when he 22, and continuing at that post for eight years.

Today, he gives concerts and solo recitals all over the world. This is a splendid disc of the music of Bach. The artists who join Pahud on these recordings are part of the Berlin Baroque Soloists, an ensemble formed in 1995 by leading members of the Berlin Philharmonic. Rainer Kussmaul is the artistic director of the organization.

(c) Copley News Service

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Author: King Durkee