In 1998, the Rotterdam Arts Foundation commissioned 24 Dutch composers to write short works, or "capriccios", for solo violin, clearly with the idea of being a modern counterpart to the 24 caprices of Paganini. The one main rule was to compose acoustically, i.e. no use of electronics/remixing, overdubbing, or other outside means of sound besides the violin on its own and the violinist on her/his own. The Dutch music publishing house Donemus published these works in a single collected volume in 1999. All of these works received their premieres that same year at the International Gaudeamus Interpreters' Competition, which centered on the violin that year.
Stravinsky: ''Oedipus Rex,'' with Leopold Simoneau, Eugenia Zareska, Bernard Cottret, Jean Cocteau; ''Scenes de Ballet.'' Orchestre National, conducted by Stravinsky, 1952. ''Le Rossignol,'' with Janine Micheau, Jean Giraudeau, Michel Roux. Orchestre National, conducted by Andre Cluytens, 1955.
Agustin Barrios was both a virtuoso and a brilliant composer. Some of his pieces, always the same, are repeated by guitarists from time to time. But Philippe Lemaigre began to engrave the complete parts found of the Argentine master, for the happiness of those who have been able to obtain the rare box of 5 CDs. The work is exceptional, absolutely sublime interpretation, on a magnificent instrument. No equivalent in the history of the guitar.
This album collects instrumental, vocal, and chamber music by "six women composers from The Netherlands", to quote its subtitle directly. These works cover a span of about 160 years, and are presented in the chronological order of the composers' birth years. This CD is yet another example of how the now-sadly-defunct NM Classics label served the music of its country so well. This album comes recommended to those interested in Dutch music, and music by female composers.