Customer Reviews

Affairs of the Heart: Music of Marjan Mozetich

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4 star:		(2)
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After hearing Passion of Angels on public radio, I ordered this cd and have lived with it over the last six months, a mainstay in my travels. New things keep revealing themselves to me in the tonalities which intially I classified simply as contemporary versions of High Romanticism. Some of the repetitions, too, I lumped at first in with post-modern Baroque minimalism. But these classifications, while handy, and while they may explain some of the residual styles informing the pieces on display here, do not do justice to the whole. Mozetich has accomplished something new from the remains of the tradition--and it is a legacy worth preserving. I have liked this cd so much I have given it as a gift. Mozetich has left us a gift indeed.

You have to give Mozetich credit for writing such anabashedly Romantic works as he entered the 21st century. The album's liner notes detail his struggle to pursue this path. Decades ago, professional critics and musicologists would have railed against these regressive works. Now, I think they've just thrown up their hands and joined the classical public in luxuriating in the saccharine nature of these works. The "Postcards" and "Passion" have received lots of airplay on Canada's CBC2 radio network. That's how I heard them. Initially, I regarded them as pleasant, contemplative ear candy. But then, something happened. A sweet young woman I knew died suddenly. At once, the "Postcards" and "Passion" took on a whole new meaning for me. I realized that they reflected her nature perfectly. Those works were a great consolation to me through my mourning period. Even Mozetich's shameless use of the main theme from Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" symphony in the "Passion" works. The "Affairs" concerto flirts dangerously with the sterile, mechanical style of John Adams in its orchestral accompaniment, but Mozetich's lush Romantic harmonies and melodies still manage to triumph. Like me, you may think you've become too jaded and post-modern to enjoy such sugary music. But let down your guard for a few minutes and come with me to wallow in this near sublime Romanticism. I did it; you can too.

I'd like to meet Marjan Mozetich.

I bought this CD for "The Passion of Angles" that I heard on PBS a few months ago. But before I could get to my "passion", which was the 5th cut, I started at the begining........to my wonderous ears appeared "Affairs of the Heart" that I have grown to love with as much or possibly even more passion.

Now understand that I am a classical freak. Example, I currently have 21 CD's of just 3 works. I love anything from Beethoven on to Rachmaninov, not much outside this, although I am always looking for the next "classical" contemporary composer.

By "classical" I mean if it doesn't have a melody, count me out. It has to have a melody.

Mozetich is my man. These two pieces are understated works of art. They have beautiful, simply stated melodies....they are not over orchestrated, and the combination of harp and violin in these concertos is just plain breathtaking.

...Unhesitatingly, and without conditions, this is one of the best composed, played and recorded pieces that has come down the pike since Rachmaninov's piano concertos.

It would have been interesting if Marjan would have put a second movement in the middle of these two pieces and called the whole work something like "The Affairs of the Angles". Bravo Mr. Mozetich...I would like to meet you.

Maybe you can get Ken Schermerhorn and the Nashville Symphony to play these works.

GG

I bought this CD because I heard Affairs of the Heart on Radio Two, CBC, Here's to You show, and every few minutes found myself exclaiming over Kang's magnificent performance. A treasure.

I agree with the sentiments above. This is great music, and I mean that in a historic as well as a qualitative sense. One commenter compared it to the importance of the Rachmaninoff concertos. I'd agree. One reason I put it in the "great" class. A lot of music, even complex classical music pieces, get stale with time. But a few pieces always excite me. (I have about 2000 CDs, 75% classical.) Even an old chestnut like Vivaldi's Four Seasons can sound fresh and exciting on the umpteenth hearing. Having lived with the Mozetich for perhaps a year now, its beauty remains, and the pieces startle me. Why are symphony orchestras having a hard time filling the halls? Maybe it's their programming. Here is a new piece that is accessible to the ears on first hearing, is lush and romantic and evocative, yet sounds fresh. Orchestras should be programming all these pieces.

I purchased this quite awhile ago, but see that I can still comment on it. I never tire of listening to this captivating piece of music. It flows beautifully & carries you along on 'wings'--maybe of angels, as some others have mentioned. I've always been a classical 'nut', even as a teenager; I like this kind of instumental beauty along with the 'old' stuff! Mozetich is in my top list, along with Einaudi, Glass, Vangelis, Jean Michal Jarre. Maybe that's a little of a different 'mix', with Jarre thrown in there, but hey, that's me, even tho I'm a grannie!

Affairs of the Heart is just that....stirring and emotional.I have found it addictive.... can't stop listening to it over and over.Just love the buildups that suddenly drop to a single violin tugging at the heart strings.Would have no hesitation in recommending Mozetich to lovers of popular and classical music alike
Certainly one of my favourite discoveries.A real gem

Ever wonder what will happen to Classical music in the modern age? Well, someone like Mozetich will write what I think of as modern, classical music, reminiscent of Impressionism and Debussy, perhaps, and thoroughly enjoyable. Great for a wistful walk through the park with birch trees rustling their leaves.