Classical CDs Weekly: Martinů, Muhly, ELF

The author of the review poses a question "You do find yourself asking why these pieces aren’t better known..." I have been a great fan of Martinů for several decades and can only repeat what several Czech artists have said repeatedly about Martinů presentation abroad... it is very difficult to push his music through, as the dramaturges have always considered his music somehow lesser, too ecclectic, not original enough, not fitting into their concept how good music should be written. On the other hand (they said) the audiences always loved it...

...and children too. I took an eight-year-old to a Prom two years ago (or was it one?) expecting him to be bowled over by Stravinsky's Petrushka. Which he was, up to a point (shame Belohlavek chose the truncated ending when I'd explained all about the ghost on the roof, which didn't happen). But what he loved most was the Martinu Concerto for Two Pianos. Partly it was the visual aspect, no doubt, but I reckon children can follow Martinu, like Mozart, without in this instance asking too many questions as adults do about the form. Martinu seems to me to be inspired in every second in his best pieces, so if you live in the moment you'll never worry where you're going next. On the other hand I won't be inflicting Nico Muhly's longwinded piece for electric violin on anyone I know, kids or otherwise, any time.