Julia Parusch - Wachsmuth: Chamber Works (2021)

Salon music has a reputation for being rather shallow than particularly substantial. It should be entertaining, not disturbing, and inconspicuous. Classic muzak, background music with a certain claim, but easy to digest and pleasantly pleasing. This CD with works by Walter Wachsmuth, recorded by the violinist Julia Parusch and her companion, the pianist Cornelia Weiss, shows that this does not have to exclude a certain claim.

“A musical soiree in the salon” is the title of the CD and that is a good fit: The music on offer is uncomplicated to listen to, which mostly pays homage to the zeitgeist of the fin de siècle and is played here with great taste. Sometimes you could imagine a little more melting - and lard (!) - in this music, Parusch and Weiss tend to be more tasteful and in every respect dignified reproduction, if you miss the last extra ounce of wickedness or something "Schmäh".

Nevertheless, Wachsmuth's music is of high quality: technically solid, elegant and cultivated, moreover always very interesting and certainly no small matter. Because in terms of playing technique, Wachsmuth demands a lot from the interpreters. This music pays homage to the light muse, but that doesn't make it easy. Sometimes it is even downright tricky and the so-called serious music has left unmistakable traces in the work of the Braunschweig violinist Wachsmuth, who worked for many years in the state orchestra there and also made a name for himself as a chamber musician.

Overall, an interesting and exciting musical facet of the 20th century is highlighted here. Music in the tension field of "U" and "E", of salon-like gesture and serious emphasis. The performers shed light on this in an absolutely exemplary manner, although they cannot entirely deny their "serious" origins.