Bloch: Baal Shem; Suite hébraïque; Suites Nos. 1 & 2 for solo violin; Ben-Haim: Sonata in G; Berceuse Sfaradite; Improvisation and Dance [Import]

Ernest Bloch (Composer), Paul Ben-Haim (Composer), Hagai Shaham (Performer), Arnon Erez (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Hagai Shaham, Arnon Erez
• Composer: Ernest Bloch, Paul Ben-Haim
• Audio CD (March 20, 2007)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B000LV6CKK
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #351,489 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Vidui

2. Nigun

3. Simchas Torah

4. Rapsodie

5. Processional

6. Affirmation

7. Prelude

8. ANdante Tranquillo

9. Allegro - Andante

10. Allegro Energico

11. Energico, Deciso

12. Moderato

13. Andante

14. Allegro Molto

15. Allegro Energico

16. Lento E Sotto Voce

17. Molto Allegro

18. Berceuse Sfaradite

19. Improvisation And Dance

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Hagai Shaham follows his disc of Bloch's Violin Sonatas with an equally splendid release of the composer's other violin music, crowned by his late Suites for solo violin, two works informed by the spirit of Bach with touches of serialism and Hebraic resonances. They're full of passion, virtuoso passages, and abrupt tempo shifts that can derail the performer. But Shaham sails through them with brilliance, capturing the rhapsodic opening of the first movement of Suite No. 1 along with its vigorous final movement, as well as the Second Suite's soaring, lyrical Andante and its virtuoso finale. Erez joins Shaham in Bloch's Baal Shem Suite and Suite hébraïque, played with colorful zest. The substantial fillers are works by Paul Ben-Haïm, a key figure in Israel's musical life. His Sonata in G minor for solo violin blends Bachian counterpart with impressionist gestures and folk song. Shaham lends an improvisatory feel to the rhythmically powerful first movement, recalls the lyricism of shepherd's pipes in the pastoral second, and revels in a stomping, virtuosic finale based on the Hora. A pair of attractive folk-based works close the recital, played by Shaham and Erez.with tonal beauty and idiomatic flair. An irresistible disc! -Dan Davis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful production of less known music, April 22, 2007

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music fan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bloch: Baal Shem; Suite hébraïque; Suites Nos. 1 & 2 for solo violin; Ben-Haim: Sonata in G; Berceuse Sfaradite; Improvisation and Dance (Audio CD)

Exciting playing of Hagai Shaham and Arnon Erez in the duo pieces, and of Hagai Shaham in Ernest Bloch's, Bach partitas-like, tonal solo violin sonatas. Bloch's pieces well complement another Bloch's CD by Shaham and Erez Bloch: Violin Sonatas.

The Israeli composer Paul Ben-Haim bears much in common with Bloch, and his wonderful, heart warming music cannot be better served than in this production. Highly recommended.