Martinu: Ariane & Double Concerto – Simona Saturova

   in Classical Music (Oct, 2016)
Martinu’s delightful one-act opera, one of his last works, is a concise and moving telling of the legend of Theseus, the slain Minotaur and the abandoned Ariadne. Netopil leads a fine performance, taut and finely detailed, and his players respond in kind. Šaturová absolutely inhabits the title role – her final aria is astounding – and the other parts are perfectly cast. The double concerto also comes off well, although there is much more competition in the catalogue here; but most listeners will buy this disc for the opera, and are strongly urged to do so. …