Friedemann Wuttke - Kontraste: Friedemann Wuttke Solo Works (2017)

Titled Kontraste - Friedemann Wuttke - Solo Works this wonderfully played album. German soloist Friedemann Wuttke studied at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart and at the same time held a lectureship at Hochschule Ludwigsburg. Wuttke has issued a number of albums ranging from classic Spanish and South American music to collaborations with friends on the John Dowland album Shadows. On this release to increase the range of works as inferred in the title Kontraste ideally I would have liked the inclusion of some late twentieth-century music from say Hans Werner Henze maybe Oberon from his Royal Winter Music. Wuttke strikes me as a serious and perceptive performer and one feels his deep concentration in these interpretations. Thoroughly enjoyable are the four Mozart pieces “that derive from various works and have been adapted for the guitar”. These are characterful works and highly diverting. Worthy of praise too is the Villa-Lobos set Cinq préludes pour guitare all agreeably attractive. They draw inspiring playing of real accomplishment from Wuttke.

TRACKLIST

01. Guitar Sonatina in C Major (Arr. of Divertimento in B-Flat Major, K. Anh. 229 No. 1): I. Allegro
02. Guitar Sonatina in C Major (Arr. of Divertimento in B-Flat Major, K. Anh. 229 No. 1): II. Andantino
03. Guitar Sonatina in C Major (Arr. of Divertimento in B-Flat Major, K. Anh. 229 No. 1): III. Menuett
04. Guitar Sonatina in C Major (Arr. of Divertimento in B-Flat Major, K. Anh. 229 No. 1): IV. Rondo
05. Introduction & Variations on a Theme by Mozart in E Major, Op. 9
06. Guitar Sonatina in C Major, Op. 52: I. Andante affetuoso
07. Guitar Sonatina in C Major, Op. 52: II. Allegro maestoso
08. 5 Preludes, W419: No. 1 in E Minor
09. 5 Preludes, W419: No. 2 in E Major
10. 5 Preludes, W419: No. 3 in A Minor
11. 5 Preludes, W419: No. 5 in D Major
12. 5 Preludes, W419: No. 4 in E Minor
13. 12 Danzas españolas, Op. 37: No. 5, Andaluza (Arr. for Guitar)
14. Suite española No. 1, Op. 47: No. 5, Asturias (Leyenda) [Arr. for Guitar]