La Belle Alliance is the Dunedin duo Tessa Petersen (violin) and John Van Buskirk (piano).
Funded by the University of Otago, this CD provides an interesting selection of works written by 10 of the composers who have held a Mozart Fellowship over the 41 years since it began. The beautiful title track, Release, was written by Chris Adams in 2001 and the oldest item is Concert Piece, by first of the fellows Anthony Watson in 1965 - it also demanded the greatest melodic fire in this recital. Edwin Carr's Sonata for Solo Violin was written four years later and contains memorable ideas in four sections using 12-tone experiment.
Other longer works are John Elmsly's Capriccio (1976), a showy piece with left-hand pizzicato and triple-stops, and Anthony Ritchie's Meditation for violin and piano (2008), commissioned by La Belle Alliance to celebrate the opening of the Dunedin Chinese Garden - it features various timbres, including the use of soft mallets on piano strings.
Remaining shorter pieces are Christopher Marshall's Homage (1994), inspired by Brahms and Tchaikowsky; Ian McDonald's Moment for Violin and Piano (1980), using a tune written for an R.A.K. Mason play at the city's Globe Theatre; John Rimmer's Adieu KS (2008), referring to composer Karl Stockhausen; and Larry Pruden's documentary film music Flight of the Albatross (1980).
The musicians are well known at the university, often contributing to concerts at Marama Hall, where this was recorded. It shows the benefits of the music department's high-tech equipment: dynamic range, detail and balance is professional, showing the artistry and sensitivity in interpretations of this wide range of music. The disc comes with an informative booklet.
Opinion: Impressive performances of special programme.
