Artist: Laurel Zucker and Renee Siebert
Title: The Complete Kuhlau Flute Duos & Divertissements (2CDs)
Genre: Classical
Label: Cantilena Records
Website

Having always been a great appreciator of the flute I found it very enjoyable to listen intently to The Complete Kuhlau Flute Duos & Divertissements-Opus 10, 102, 68. I am finding out through several albums of listening pleasure recently that Laurel Zucker is one of the very best flutists in the world today and she aligns herself on projects with the best in the industry. On this 2-disc set, she combines her graceful talents with those of another renowned and respected flutist, Renee Siebert.

Frederick Daniel Rodolphe Kuhlau was born in 1786 at the village of Uelzen in Luneburg, Hanover. Duly anointed the king of flautist-composers, his classical compositions have earned him the accolades as the Beethoven of the flute. Many of his works exhibit the passion and authority of the father of music. In this rare performance (there are no recordings available of these two complete opuses of Kuhlau Duos anywhere) you will discover a "premiere" classical recording. Siebert and Zucker plan on recording more select Kahlau compositions in the future, which all classical lovers will surely anticipate as being a landmark release just as this set is.

I principally enjoyed the way the two flutists captured the different moods and colors that Kahlau established within his intricate compositions. Their technical expertise with their instruments and complete understanding of the meaning and overall intent of the music allow the listener the pleasure of a candid look into the mind of one of the world's great composers.

The view from the studio-Inspirations stemming from Kuhlau's music from Laurel Zucker:

As flutists and friends, Renee and I laughed and had a great time all the way through the two recording sessions. The technical and musical challenges of these two volumes of classical duets made for a very stimulating musical experience. Our Grammy Award winning engineer/producer -Adam Abeshouse was wonderful to work with. The great thing about working with Adam is that one can simply relax and trust that Adam will hear everything that needs to be heard in a recording session. The way in which Kuhlau is able to skillfully and beautifully weave two melodic lines together makes his music a pleasure for flautists to perform.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

July 8, 2004

Rating-10/10

DISC ONE

FREDERICK KUHLAU (1786-1832)
Three Duos for Two Flutes, Opus 10

01. Duo No. 1 Allegro con espression (5:05)
02. Duo No. 1 Larghetto (6:13)
03. Duo No. 1 Allegro (6:28)
04. Duo No. 2 Allegrissimo (3:54)
05. Duo No. 2 Larghetto con express: malinconica (4:02)
06. Duo No. 2 Rondo (5:05)
07. Duo No. 3 Allegro assai (4:37)
08. Divertissement No. 3 for flute, Opus 68 (4:01)
09. Divertissement No. 4 (6:27)
10. Divertissement No. 5 for flute, Opus 68-Adagio (6:51)
11. Divertissement No. 5-Scherzo/Presto (4:26)
12. Divertissement No. 6 (8:51)

DISC TWO

FRIEDRICH KUHLAU
Three Virtuoso Duets for Two Flutes Opus 102* Duet No. 1 Allegro assai

01. Duet No. 1 Allegro assai (6:56)
02. Duet No. 1 Andante cantabile (2:37)
03. Duet No. 1 Rondo (5:13)
04. Duet No. 2 Adagio-Allegro assai, con molto fuoco (6:43)
05. Duet No. 2 Variations on an Old Swedish Air (6:54)
06. Duet No. 3 Allegro vivace (4:45)
07. Duet No. 3 Adagio (3:16)
08. Duet No. 3 Rondo (5:33)
09. Divertissement No. 1, Opus 68 Adagio (2:50)
10. Divertissement No. 1 Alla Pollacca (5:18)
11. Divertissement No. 2 Allegro (2:20)
12. Divertissement No. 2 Larghetto (4:13)