The
LGT Young Soloists
are a throwback to a time when corporations in various places sported their own ensembles, performing under the aegis of LGT Private Banking in Switzerland. They range in age from 14 to 23, and under conductor
Alexander Gilman
, they have been attracting lots of attention for adult-level performances like the ones here. That bank is owned by Liechtenstein's royal family, which is perhaps the reason for the inclusion here of the peppy
Concerto Grosso No. 3, Op. 68 ("Liechtenstein")
, by composer
Airat Ichmouratov
. The main attraction is
Mahler
's arrangement of
Schubert
's
String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D. 810 ("Death and the Maiden")
. This is rarely heard because
left it somewhat unfinished, giving his marked-up score to other composers and performing only the Andante movement, but it has a somewhat different flavor from
's arrangements of
Beethoven
's symphonies and is well worth hearing. The graphics for this album assert that
turned the quartet into a "grand orchestral spectacle," and this isn't quite right; it is for a small string orchestra, after all, but it has a slightly stressed, showy quality that is quite Mahlerian. The young players pick up on this mood (
does tend to appeal to teenage angst), and the result is a strong, clean performance.
Naxos
records the music cleanly at Henry Wood Hall in London, and those curious about this unique young ensemble would do well to start here. ~ James Manheim