Customer Reviews

Corigliano: Red Violin Concerto / Violin Sonata ~ Bell

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Five SPECTACULAR Stars!! A marvelous, dramatic live premier performance by the violinist and orchestra and a mesmerizingly adventurous performance by the violinist & pianist duo!! The last time they met, Grammy-award winning violin virtuoso Joshua Bell joined forces with the brilliant classical composer John Corigliano on the soundtrack to the François Gira film "The Red Violin" and it won an Academy Award. That 20 track soundtrack has been re-imagined by Mr Corigliano into a wonderful, somewhat avant garde, four movement composition called "The Red Violin Concerto" which is performed here brilliantly by Mr Bell, conductor Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The piece is dedicated to Mr Corigliano's father. In addition, there is the heartfelt five movement "Sonata for Violin and Piano" performed by Mr Bell and the amazing pianism of Jeremy Denk.

The 'Pieces De Resistance', the best of the best, begin with the Red Violin Concerto's 'knock-out' of a 16 minute multi-layered, multi-tempo "Chaconne" movement that runs the gamut of emotions from ethereal to intense, from arco to pizzacato, beautifully played by Joshua Bell and supported by Ms Alsop and the orchestra. A 'Tour de Force' in one movement! That's followed by 'castanet'-like accents, skittering notes, and a marvelous dissonant waltz in the second "Pianissimo Scherzo" movement with Mr Bell playing like a dervish, displaying a wonderful tone. And lastly, the thrilling 'train ride' of the final "Accelerando" movement with Bell playing hard, fast, and heartfelt amid orchestral cacophony full of surprises. The "Sonata for Violin and Piano" is almost a microcosm of the Concerto with beautiful themes, especially the plaintive "Lento", taunt violin soliloquies, technical bowed fireworks and great piano statements and interplay abounding. The sonata is just as captivating as the orchestral concerto. Joshua Bell, Ms Alsop and the orchestra, and Mr Denk are absolutely superb as is the composer Mr Corigliano. Kudos to all concerned!! My Highest Recommendation. Five HUGE Stars

(Notes:
* This review is based on an iTunes digital download.
* Mr Bell plays a real "red Stradivarius violin", the 1713 "Gibson ex-Huberman", which was stolen twice and last recovered, prior to Bell's ownership, through an alleged deathbed confession after being missing for 5 decades. The tone of it, as heard here at the command of Mr Bell, is beyond description.)

Forty years passed between the composition of Corigliano's "Sonata for violin and Piano" (1963) and the Red Violin Concerto premiere in 2003. The two works are very different in scope and scale, but to my ears they have a lot in common. I don't guarantee that I could recognize a previously unheard piece of music instantly as Corigliano's, but I'd be willing to try. In his notes for this CD, Corigliano says: the sonata is "for the most part a tonal work, although it incorporates non-tonal and poly-tonal sections within it, as well as other 20th-century harmonic, rhythmic and construction techniques. The listener will recognize the work as the product of an American writer, although this is more the result of an American writing music than writing 'American' muisc -- a second-nature unconscious action on the composer's part." Gosh and golly, John, I think you may be optimistic about most listeners, but I hear what you mean. The great Czech composer Leos Janacek described his own efforts to shape his music, even instrumental, to the sound of the Czech language; most serious performers and listeners have agreed that he succeeded. This sonata by the young Corigliano sounds a lot like similar works by Janacek, except that the melodic language IS different and DOES sound like Americam English in some subjective manner that I can't quite define. I hear a slangy, sarcastic, but tender American voice in the phrases of the violin. I like this piece of music, and I appreciate the pairing of youthful and mature compositions on this CD.

Joshua Bell is a thrilling performer. I can't compare his playing of these two compositions to anyone else's, since I haven't heard any other, but Bell clearly has the bowing technique to meet any eccentic demands of the music. The 4th Movement "Accelerando Finale" of the Concerto calls for very violent bowing, incorporating the fiddle into the overall percussion texture of the music. It makes a witty and vigorous conclusion for a showy concerto.

The nucleus of the Red Violin Concerto is music that Conigliano composed for a film, which I haven't seen. Since I enjoy the Concerto thoroughly, I guess I'll rent the film.

A brilliant effort by soloist and composer. Although Corigliano does not chart any new theoretical territory, his melodies are exquisite, his orchestration is right on, and the structure is expertly crafted. Corigliano shows true mastery of the modern concerto form. Joshua Bell's performance is first-rate, the depth of his interpretation shows great maturity, and his execution is flawless. Bell's technical virtuosity will make you forget that this is a live recording. I whole-heartedly recommend this to all music lovers.

When the film "The Red Violin" came out in theaters, I was enthralled by both its visual and audial aspects. I saw the film twice in theaters, and later purchased both the DVD and the CD soundtrack. Corrigliano's score for the film was breathtaking as were Joshua Bell's solo violin parts. I thought at the time that this music deserved much greater attention as a standalone work. I am ecstatic that the composer was of the same mind, took the best parts of the film soundtrack, expanded upon some of the themes, and produced a very substantial opus. The performance by the Baltimore Symphony is a triumph of both the orchestra and the ever amazing Joshua Bell.

Red Violin Concerto


Five stars here! Ever since the Red Violin Concerto by John Corigliano made its world premiere in 2003 I've been impatiently waiting for Joshua Bell to record it. I must say, I have not been disappointed with this recording! The concerto was recorded live, and Josh, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop were all vibrantly dynamic in as fine a performance of contemporary music as I've heard.

The concerto develops the themes of the Oscar winning Red Violin movie score. The first movement, Chaconne, was previously recorded with the sound-track of the Red Violin movie, though this recording seems more vibrant. The second, third and fourth movements include beautiful and highly unusual effects, with the fourth movement featuring races that bring the concerto to a climax with the soloist and orchestra each accelerating at different times and speeds.

The conductor, Marin Alsop, conducted the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for twelve years, giving me previous exposure to her depth, skill and insight particularly into contemporary music. The combination of Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with Joshua Bell in this recording is positively stellar.

Also on this CD is Corigliano's Sonata for Violin and Piano played by Joshua Bell and Jeremy Denk. Although violin-piano pieces usually seem to use the piano as support and accompaniment for the violin, in this sonata violin and piano have distinct parts in the manner of co-partners. I especially love the fourth movement, Allegro, as it seems very beautiful and cheerful.

Before Corigliano, the genre of crossover concerto was occupied by Miklos Rosza and Korngold, both of whom applied lush, easy to assimilate music familiar from Hollywood movies. I loved the music to "The Red Violin," and unlike its predecessors, the Red Violin Concerto actually adapts a film score. The new version is a fusion of the haunting melody that recurred throughout the film with modernist orchestral turns, most of which can be found in previous Corigliano scores like his wildly popular Sym. #1 on the theme of AIDS.

I'm not sure the hybrid is better than the original, but the point is moot -- Joshua Bell's authoritative performance sweeps away all objections, for many fans at least, and in their debut CD, Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Sym. give their all. The BSO hasn't made a commercial recording in eight years, and they sound first-rate. If only they had been recorded under the great Russian maestro, Yuri Temirkanov, who served as music director for a few brief years. Sony's sonics are breathtaking in their impact and dynamic range, so all in all, this is a successful crossover enterprise. Personally, however, I find more enjoyment from the film score, which has no pretensions to being concert-hall music and therefore contains a much higher romantic swoon factor.

I was in the audience when this recording was made. The performance was electifying. Marin Alsop is a very talented conductor and has a wonderful rapport with her audience. A must for all muslic lovers' collections.

Joshua Bell is an amazing violinist who is able to perform effectively in a wide range of musical genres. Although I prefer his recordings of the great classic concerti, this is still another beautiful cd.

You may have overheard at some party the following or a similar comment coming from a self-proclaimed music expert: "I only listen to Beethoven and the real music. The contemporary composers just don't cut it". Then somebody asks: "Which contemporary composers do you have in mind?" The answer follows: "They are all so bad that I don't even remember their names". I shall spare you my pontification that there is a difference between ignorance (not all of us are familiar with all the composers) and stupidity (the refusal to get educated). Instead, I make a claim that even the staunchest haters of the contemporary composers will cave in to John Corigliano, if they only let themselves be exposed to his music. After hearing his music, they will be swept of their feet and they will never forget his name! John Corigliano is one of the most distinguished contemporary composers and has received all major awards, which you can find listed on Google. After hearing his compositions on this CD you will understand why these awards are given to him. It also becomes clear that these compositions will survive our times. Give yourself a chance to participate in the musical present and the future! This is not to say that you should dump all dead composers whom you love so dearly, just add somebody who is alive!

Maestro Joshua Bell excels in his hauntingly beautiful performance. The violin part is stunningly beautiful, and the performance does it justice. In a mix of unprecedented virtuosity and a sublime interpretation, Maestro Bell affirms that he is one of the best.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, with Marin Alsop conducting, was great. It is difficult to choose between all great moments, but I especially liked the orchestral drama and the hell which was raised by the percussions (I have not been so excited about the percussions since I heard Carmina Burana).

The notes that accompany this CD are written masterfully by John Corigliano, who clearly also has a great talent of communicating with the listeners via the written words. He talks about his father, a very prominent violinist, and how he came to appreciate violin and its technical difficulties by listening to his father. Then he explains how he used the Baroque device of a chaconne (a repeated pattern of chords) to structure the red violin concerto. He offers further insights into his music, which will guide the listener to pick up and identify various innovative elements.

As an overall experience, one cannot escape the excitement that one has witnessed the greatness of Corigliano as a composer, and a great symbiotic relationship with Joshua Bell, with the result that 2+2 is more than 4!

If you happen to be among the many who greatly treasure Joshua Bell's expressive, lyrical style of playing (myself included), then you'll find much to rejoice in this recently released recording of composer John Corigliano's "The Red Violin" concerto for violin and orchestra. It's a fascinating four movement work which opens with a long Chaconne that's replete with extremely demanding phrasing from Bell's violin; observant fans may recognize that it was an important part of Corigliano's original movie score for the film of the same title, featuring Bell's energetic rhapsodic playing as the Red Violin's "voice". Moreover, it is a film score that seems to have some elements in common with the somewhat atonal film score that Corigliano composed for the film "Altered States"; the atonal aspects seem to be emphasized via percussion in each of the succeeding movements after the Chaconne (first movement). Recorded back in 2003 at the world premiere live concert debut, this work also features excellent playing from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of its now current music director, Marin Alsop.

Rounding out this recording is a spirited performance of an early Corigliano work dating from the early 1960s, the Sonata for violin and piano. In stark contrast with Corigliano's recent work like the violin concerto, this is a musically enticing work that represents his early interest in tonal music. It also is a splendid piece that underscores the close collaboration Bell has had with his frequent accompanist, pianist Jeremy Denk. Without a doubt, fans of both Corigliano's music and Bell's sterling musicianship will want to add this fine CD to their collections.