I always look forward to hearing the latest recording by the piccolo virtuoso, Jean- Louis Beaumadier. This CD features also features flautist Shigenori Kudo and pianist Anne Guidi.

Shigenori Kudo’s playing was of great interest to me, as I admit I did not know of his playing before hearing this recording.

Having studied with Jean-Pierre Rampal in the late 70s and been a regular duo partner of that most famous of French teachers, it was no surprise to me that Kudo possesses a most beautiful, flawless French tone and immaculate technique.

In this unusual pairing of flute and piccolo as duettists, there is a perfect match of these qualities. Some players of more ‘unusual’ instruments, including double bass, viola, and all of the auxiliary wind instruments including piccolo, are occasionally less than complimented when compared favourably with their more common cousins, such as the cello, violin etc. I can see why... the implication being that, for example, the double bass cannot stand on it’s own as a solo instrument except if played well enough to sound like a deep cello when it passes with flying colours! Personally when I hear myself on a recording and I sound like a flute (instead of displaying some less than fabulous piccolo characteristics such as suspicious intonation or poor balance in a tutti passage) I am more than happy!

Thus I hope I do not offend Mr Beamadier when I say that he sounds exactly like a high flute, with perfect intonation, sweet tone and immaculate balance between the three octaves. The match between the two soloists is perfect, not only in balance of volume and timbre, and they are also successful in this useful and interesting exercise in exchanging one of the flute parts for piccolo in these entertaining and virtuosic pieces.

This CD showcases six of the many scores of pieces written in the genre of Operatic Theme and Variations. Opera tunes from Lucia Di Lammamoor, Rigoltto and Aida to name a few are included here, and many of us have enjoyed playing solo and duo pieces of this type on flute(s) and piano. They were enjoyed by many a talented amateur in their day and cashed in on the popularity of the opera tunes that everyone wanted to hear again and again.

I think this CD is an entertaining and, as a piccolo player dare I say, more interesting record of this repertoire than the usual pairing of two flutes. The playing is terrific, and particularly inspiring to those who want or need a good piccolo role-model. Enjoy!

DDD Scarbo DSK 4085

Rosamund Plummer has extensive performing experience in Australia, UK and USA, and is currently Principal Piccolo with the Sydney Symphony, and combines a busy family life with her work as a part time lecturer in Flute at the Conservatorium of Music.