The two movements of Nga Whetu e Whitu enlist American flautist Jesse Schiffman, who fails to delve beyond the surface prettiness, with none of the charisma that we might have expected from New Zealander Bridget Douglas who commissioned the work. And, while every composer is allowed his or her days off, five short Love Songs are like fleshed-out Richard Clayderman, woefully lightweight here.
Adrianna Lis' Rozmowa/Dialogue is a novel recital, placing New Zealand composers against those of her native Poland, with the indefatigable Sarah Watkins on piano.
Most of the Polish offerings are pleasant but slightly retro, especially a 2001 Sonata by Lukasz Wos. However, Roxanna Panufnik's unaccompanied The Conversation of Prayer showcases Lis' buoyant lines in unexplained reverberance. Michal Rosiak's The Melbourne Cup is a perky 1'45"; Lis' piccolo chirping cheekily over Vadim Simongauz's snare drum.
A Gao Ping Sonatina is easy on the ear but conservative for this Christchurch composer; four pieces from Jack Body's Rainforest are pattering, playful delights, while Anthony Ritchie takes devious twists and turns with a Chopin Mazurka.
Michael Williams' When We Fell catches Polish sorrows and suffering during World War II. A backing track mixes chimes, distressed bar-room piano, heartbeats, military drums and hints of tango. Lis, as well as contributing flute, recites a Polish text, sobs, and completes the emotionally involving narrative with the words of Nietzsche.
