Bruxelles 1000
Nadine Rooseleir and Norbert Leclercq
Available From: Norbert Leclercq, 12 Bld. de la Woluwe (88) 1932 Woluwé-Saint-Étienne – Belgium
Reviewed 12th March 2018
Leclecq (born in 1944) has written many works over the years but also is involved in many performing projects, including a duo with Nadine Rooseleir.
This latest CD, a mixture of eight solos and nine duets has eleven works by Leclercq. The opening Pentagone a five- movement duet immediately establishes his modern style, with moments of pungency intermingled with more lyrical passages. The Prelude from Bach’s Fifth Cello Suite follows in what is a very nice performance by Rooseleir. Mandarine, a duet and Alinea a solo played and written by Leclercq are more melodic with moments of lyrical despair in the latter. Valse in Am by Chopin, arranged by Leclercq is nicely played whilst Jose – Luis Narvaez’s Hommage au Bateau Lvre is a wonderfully exotic concoction and full of his very particular but gripping harmonies. After De Falla’s Miller’s Dance come four pieces by Leclercq, the rather acidic solo Norge, the almost childlike duet Etoile, the modern harmonies of Prism, and the two Espaces, very chameleonic in their harmonies. A lovely performance by Rooseleir of Pujol’s Preludio Triston, such a nostalgic piece precedes three more works by Leclercq, the duet Random – Hasard, the title piece ( a solo) and the duet Deux Photos. The De Falla Hommage a Debussy from Leclercq is followed by the final duo, Trois Cycles that close the CD with a modern touch. If modern harmonies are not your forte, then this CD will not appeal, but if they do, this recording is a fine example of some very good playing.
Chris Dumigan