Divertimento, Idyll Suite for String Orchestra
Another marvelous showcase for the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, for its distinguished music director, Iona Brown, and for that vivid Chandos sound--so warm, natural, and full-bodied in these works for strings. The main musical challenge is the BartókDivertimento, written in the atmosphere of impending world war in 1939, yet everywhere containing echoes of the interest in folk song that so occupied the composer in his earlier years.  The familiar Bartók trademarks are there, but, all in all, for the first-timer, this is a less daunting introduction to his music than many, especially given such a fully committed, riveting performance. No problems in approaching the winning melodies of the two Janácek works, but few in a "blind tasting" would guess he was the composer. These are early works from the 1870s, when Janácek was under the spell of Dvorák, although they also owe their inspiration to Baroque dance. There is little sign of the passionate, individual voice of the years to come, but the charm of these pieces belies the composer's own estimation that they were "worthless." And here and there (try the scherzo of the Suite), there are opportunities for virtuosic display--which the NCO eagerly seizes upon.--Andrew Green