The Sky Is Melting

In The Sky is Melting, Linda Kouvaras responds to the heat of the Australian summer – an idea translated into sound with great success by Australian duo Marianne Rothschild (violin) and Glenn Riddle (piano), whose new album is an impressionistic journey taking in a range of compositions from contemporary Melbourne. ★★★½

Rippling and cascading runs in the piano reminiscent of Reflections in the Water by Debussy, introduce the first track. The CD is named after this piece – The Sky is Melting. Linda Kouvaras also composed the major item, the Bundanon Sonata whilst she was artist in residence at the Arthur and Yvonne Boyd estate bequeathed to the nation. The track listing describes the work as a Suite for Violin and Piano and this might be a better description. Each movement bears a title relating to Bundanon. The first, Pulpit Rock, is reminiscent of Debussy's Sunken Cathedral reflected in the slow moving piano chords. Again, The River Changes is very influenced by French Impressionism. A jazz waltz follows and the final movement begins with a moto perpetuo opening with a very meditative ending. These Melbourne composers' works are stylishly performed by Marianne Rothschild and Glenn Riddle. Stuart Greenbaum is represented by Occasional Pieces and William James Schmidt by the very effective Argentinian Etching. Also highly effective, exhibiting a Japanese influence, is Sonus Dulcis by Andrián Pertout.

Here’s a window into a corner of the country’s musical composition world, one that is centred around Melbourne. Both performers are locals: violinist Rothschild studied at the Victorian College of the Arts and the Australian National Academy of Music and has freelanced round the country; Riddle is currently Lecturer in Keyboard at Melbourne University’s Conservatorium of Music and a pedagogical force in the national music sphere. Much of what they present on this now somewhat dated disc (released in 2014) is bound up with their collaboration; in fact, the major work on this recording, Linda Kouvaras’ Bundanon Sonata for Violin and Piano, was written for the duo. Andrián Pertout’s Sonus Dulcis – a construct that the composer keeps on re-framing – was arranged for these executants, who also gave the premiere performance of William James Schmidt’s Argentine Etching.