Album

Café Vienna is an interesting departure for Our Recordings, the label jointly run by guitarist Lars Hannibal and recorder virtuoso Michala Petri. Usually the focus, apart from the outstanding artistry of these musicians, is on contemporary and/or Baroque music, but this collection is centered in the early nineteenth century—an important period for Hannibal's instrument—and in Vienna's coffee culture that was raging at the time. For this program, Petri takes advantage of the busker's long tradition of adapting music not written for her instrument, such as that for flute or violin. However, in some cases the pieces here are written for instruments even more arcane than the recorder, such as the csákány in the work by Ernst Krähmer; therefore, Petri and Hannibal succeed in reviving music that would normally not be revived anyway.

North American listeners will take great interest in Carulli's Fantasie sur un air national anglais, Op. 102, as the "air National Anglais" happens to be "God Save the King," also the tune of an unofficial national anthem in the U.S., "America." Variation sets on this tune are numerous in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, but as this is a fantasy, once the theme is stated the music goes its own direction in a very attractive way. Another standout is the Beethoven Sonatina in C major, WoO 44a; it's a relatively simple and pleasant tune that fits very well on the recorder and Petri plays this little Beethovenian bonbon with obvious enthusiasm and joie de vivre. There really isn't any weak material on this CD; the only thing that seems to stick out from the rest is the Krähmer as the recorder seems recorded a bit more closely and it's an exceptionally bright track. But the disc as a whole has a wonderfully rounded feel to it that suggests the gently relaxed atmosphere of the coffee house and its special blend of aromas, the musicianship is top flight, and Our Recordings' Café Vienna would make for a great counterpoint for Saturday afternoon gardening and other relaxing activities that require some measure of concentration. The music is as warm and agreeable as a cup of coffee, but will not compete with one's train of thought.

© Uncle Dave Lewis , All Music Guide

CD 1
Mauro Giuliani Composer Gran Duetto Concertante, for flute (or violin) and guitar in A, Op.52 Work 17:13 Lars Hannibal Guitar, Michala Petri Recorder
1	1.Andante sostenuto	4:10			$0.99
2	2.Menuetto	4:59			$0.99
3	3.Rondo Militaire: Allegretto	8:04			$1.49
Ferdinando Carulli Composer Fantaisie sur un air national anglais, for recorder & guitar, Op.102 Work Lars Hannibal Guitar, Michala Petri Recorder
4	Fantaisie sur un air national anglais, for recorder & guitar, Op.102	7:12			$1.49
Joseph Küffner Composer Potpourri sur des airs nationaux français, for recorder & guitar, Op.226 Work Lars Hannibal Guitar, Michala Petri Recorder
5	Potpourri sur des airs nationaux français, for recorder & guitar, Op.226	8:34			$1.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Mandolin Sonatina in C-, WoO43a Work Lars Hannibal Guitar, Michala Petri Recorder
6	Mandolin Sonatina in C-, WoO43a	4:27			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Mandolin Sonatina in C-, WoO44a Work Lars Hannibal Guitar, Michala Petri Recorder
7	Mandolin Sonatina in C-, WoO44a	2:54			$0.99
Ernst Krahmer Composer Introduction, Theme and Variations, Op.32 Work Lars Hannibal Guitar, Michala Petri Recorder
8	Introduction, Theme and Variations, Op.32	6:33			$0.99
Joseph Mayseder Composer Potpourri on Themes of Beethoven and Rossini, for recorder & guitar Work Lars Hannibal Guitar, Michala Petri Recorder
9	Potpourri on Themes of Beethoven and Rossini, for recorder & guitar	9:02			$1.49
Carl Scheindienst Composer Variations for czakan & guitar on "Gestern Abend war Vetter Michel da" Work Lars Hannibal Guitar, Michala Petri Recorder
10	Variations for czakan & guitar on "Gestern Abend war Vetter Michel da"	6:09			$0.99