The era of hi-fi and stereo recordings has brought forth a bumper crop of flute recitals, and at least two flutists whose recordings in number...

The era of hi-fi and stereo recordings has brought forth a bumper crop of flute recitals, and at least two flutists whose recordings in number and sales rival those of our foremost piano and violin virtuosos, Jean-Pierre Rampai and James Gal way. But to the best of my knowledge neither they nor a host of other men and women who expertly toot the flute have brought forth such a thoroughly interesting and musically satisfying disc as this one. High praise must go to András Adorján (born in Budapest in 1944), whose fine technique is equaled by a profound sympathy for the extraordinary shifts in style and mood demanded by this novel program. More remarkable still is the playing of Alfons Kontarsky, whose realization of the piano part in Schubert's Introduction and Variations is a sort of revelation. He also plays with the light touch and simplicity required by the popular offerings of Philipp Friedrich Sucher (1789-1860), Beethoven, and (attr.) Chopin, and the subtleties of tonal shading required for the post-Debussyian composition by the late great pianist Walter Gieseking (1895-1956). At 21:34 it is the longest work here, exceeding Schubert's (easily the most famous and frequently played) by half a minute.

Tudor's elegantly natural digital recording took place in December 1991. Notes in English, French, and German are a model for such things, and the print is reader-friendly. The program is as generous in timing as it is interesting in concept. It is always a pleasure to have a mixture of old favorites and worthy novelties, especially when performed and presented with all-pervading excellence. An outstanding release.

-- Robert McColley, Fanfare