Nostos
Clio Theodoridis; Jonathan Nemtanu
Leaf Music LM306 (leaf-music.lnk.to/lm306)
Clio Theodorisis was born in Athens and now performs and teaches saxophone with Quebec as her base. She has won several international awards, is an ambassador for Henri Selmer Paris and performs regularly with Jonathan Nemtanu in Duo Astor.
The liner notes for Nostos (expressing the return to one’s homeland after a long absence), state that this album’s works trace a “musical and personal odyssey. From Pedro Itturalde’s Suite Hellénique, rooted in Greek heritage, to the contemporary works of Canadian composer Mathieu Lussier, this recording tells our own story: a life between two worlds, between past and present.”
The album begins with the five-part Ocres rouges by the French clarinetist Alexis Ciesla which “draws inspiration from Klezmer landscapes and colours.” Its Andante - Meditativo movement is sparse and beautiful. The Allegro rythmico begins with some fine percussive saxophone pad work and then launches into several thrilling passages of fast fingers and minor scale runs. Fazil Say’s Suite for Alto Saxophone showcases the full range of Theodoridis’s technique and tone. The Andante movement is a highlight of the album as the saxophone is both delicate and forceful in its treatment of the gorgeous melodic twists and ascending lines.
Lussier’s Récit et lied, Op 31 begins with a long solo introduction that reminds us slightly of Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, but then moves into several other intriguing directions. The closing work, Suite Hellénique is a lively end to this diverse album.
The performances by Theodoridis and Nemtanu are masterful and inspired as they lead us through their journey across cultures and geography.
Listen to 'Nostos' Now in the Listening Room
