Ades: Asyla

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Simon Rattle, Thomas Adès

“This CD includes the Chamber Symphony, the work that first aroused interest in Adès's work when he was 18, set alongside Asyla, a recent un-chamber symphony and his first work for full orchestra. The progression between them is remarkable: the Chamber Symphony has both real invention and real economy, and its use of jazz elements is neither patronising nor culinary. Maybe its last movement adds little of consequence to the preceding three, but Asyla genuinely grows from the grave, rather Brittenish horn line that sets it going through the strong drama of the central movements to the Addinsell Orchestral almost Sibelian climax of the finale. Adès's own voice is clearly audible throughout, elegant, coolly intelligent but urgent. These Premises are Alarmed, a sinewy toccata of bright colour and urgent energy, was written for the opening of the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. In the Concerto conciso Adès perhaps takes his pleasure in simple intervals and brief motives a little too far. However, … but allshall be well is something else again. It develops abundant, earnest melody from a pair of simple phrases in an impressively sustained argument that reaches a powerful and satisfying climax. Fine performances, admirably recorded.” - Gramophone 2010