INKPOT#87 CLASSICAL MUSIC REVIEWS: HANDEL/D.SCARLATTI Transcriptions for Guitar Duo. Katona Twins (Channel)

Domenico SCARLATTI (1685-1757)
Sonata in E minor (orig. C minor) - Allegro K115
Sonata in E minor (orig. C minor) - Allegro K116
Sonata in C minor - Andante e cantabile K481*
Toccata in D mimor - Allegro K141/L422
Sonata in G major (orig. D major) - Allegro K491
Sonata in G major - Presto K427

George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Chaconne in G major HWV 435**
Trio Sonata in D minor Op.2, No.5 (orig. G minor)

with Qin Liwei (cello) Suite in A minor (orig. D minor), HWV 428

All transcriptions by Katona twins except
* arr. T Bittermann, ** arr. Frankfurt Guitar Duo/Katona Twins

THE KATONA TWINS
Peter and Zoltán Katona guitars
Guitars: Nicolaus Wollf, 1995 · Cello: Vincenzo Panormo c.1791

CHANNEL Classics CCS 14298
[62:56] full-price
This review is dedicated to Tim.

Guitar music was once considered by myself as 'not-happening', to use a local colloquial term, this translates to 'boring'... I still remember the jibes that I would put my guitarist friend through... in my own way, humming a quote of Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjuez in a most unflattering way...despite my friend telling me that the guitar is capable of much more quite beyond my imagination. I didn't understand what she meant. But that was years ago.

My impression of this instrument has certainly improved over the years. It all began when I wanted to surprise another guitar lover friend with a birthday present of guitar music. The search, in my characteristic thoroughness, educated me a lot and I am now pleased to be a convert to the artistry of masters such as Segovia.

Nonetheless, what makes some guitar music so boring to me is the willing sacrifice that is made to the innate pulse of the music. Very frequently I find myself shifting uncomfortably in my seat to hear lesser guitarists try their best to maneuver difficult passages with 5 fingers. I do not believe in sacrificing pulse for notes. This is a definite no. Which brings me to my point: that the guitar is an extremely difficult instrument to play when it is used as a plucked instrument. This presents a supreme challenge to the guitar player, and indeed, this is where ingenious transcriptions make 10 fingered music possible with half that number, and with no loss of tempo.

Having said that, by teaming up as a Guitar Duo, there are technically speaking, 5 more fingers available to do the same job and it is another creative solution for the problem. Duo guitar music also sounds richer and have more depth. Whatever the case may be, technical wizardry or ingenious duo transcriptions - so long as I do not have to wince at guitarists trying to impress me with how they can play all the notes with 5 fingers but at one quarter the tempo, I am more than thankful.

The Katona Twins hail from Budapest, Hungary. In 1999, the talented identical pair were winners of the Concert Artists Guild Competition, New York. They bring to this recording their very good music sense and wonderful transcriptions. I am all delighted when I first heard this disc and I still am. Does anyone remember the excellent Scarlatti/Handel Sonata recital recording which Murray Perahia recorded for Sony? This one is similar in greatness, except it is played by 10 fingers on two human beings, 5 contributed by each twin...whatever that means. Indeed, the two recordings share several similar pieces and one can compare them to yer heart's content. I am biased to prefer the guitar duo version because it is a plucked instrument and hence closer to the harpsichord than the percussed piano.

There is hardly any phrase in this recording where I can find tempo sacrificed for dexterity. Listen to the interplay between the two guitars in their semi-quaver runs in Track 4 Toccata in D minor . Hear also the neck-breaking Presto in Track 17 Sonata in G major. Clearly, any lesser tempo would not do and duo transcription or not, one is amazed by the technical skill of either twin. Phew, that was exciting!

I have mentioned earlier their very good music sense and one can sample that immaculate pacing they apply to their music in the elegant Chaconne Their ability of alter the tone of their strings by varing their plucking technique gives essential interpretative vigor to the music where no harpsichord I know can quite measure up in the same way. The guitar has a magical tone and when played the way these twins do, duo guitar music of this quality transcends even the instrument for which this music was intended.

Joining them in Handel's Trio Sonata is Qin Li Wei, a Shanghai born music-scholar-in-residence at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Mr Qin has a gruffy cello tone which juxtaposes very agreeably with the fluid teardrop tone of the Katona Twins. Together, they make this music so convincing that I am persuaded that it is possible that this music was intended for the current instruments. Channel's recording is excellent and their combined results are nothing short breath-taking.

I will not shy to say that this recording is nearly faultless, a whole hearted recommendation indeed for all lovers (and skeptics too) of not just the guitar but of the music of Handel and Scarlatti. I am persuaded that both Handel and Scarlatti would together raise more than 10 fingers in approval... Hear your favourite sonatas in totally new strings and you might just dump your old CDs.