Dennis Russell Davies Performs Philip Glass [Import]

Philip Glass (Composer), Dennis Russell Davies (Conductor), Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies
• Composer: Philip Glass
• Audio CD (March 4, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Orange Mountain Music
• ASIN: B0001IW3U6
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,626 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From the Artist

Mr. Davies comments: "I have played and conducted Philip’s music for 25 years, including the first performances of all six symphonies, several of the operas, the original 6 piano etudes and the Tyrol Concerto. With each new work I have been increasingly impressed by the skill with which Philip has refined and extended the expressive possibilities of his musical language to move his listeners. Learning, practicing and performing the Tyrol Concerto has been a rewarding and exhilarating from the first conceptual discussions through countless performances before widely varied audiences both in Europe and North America. Philip tailor made the concerto for me together with the brilliant Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra and we love performing it. Passages is Philip’s homage to his mentor and friend Ravi Shankar, and in this spirit I have arranged this beautiful musical synthesis to bring together two great ensembles, my Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra and the incomparable Raschèr Saxophone Quartet. As Philip knows, it’s fun to write for friends."

Product Description

Dennis Russell Davies is one of the world’s most inventive conductors. At the forefront of the orchestral, chamber and operatic worlds, he is an articulate and versatile artist respected in both traditional and contemporary music, as well as an accomplished pianist and much-sought after collaborator. As a champion of composer Philip Glass’ music, and of many other great contemporary composer’s work, he has had significantly helped to enrich concert and operatic repertory around the globe. Currently, Mr. Davis is Chief Conductor of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, and the Linz Opera. He is also a Professor of Orchestral Conducting at the Salzburg Mozarteum.

The Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra was commissioned by the Tirol Tourist Board (Tirol Werbung, Tirol/Austria) and had its world premiere at the Tyrol Festival "Klangspuren" in Jenbach, Austria on 22nd September 2000. While staying in the Tyrol, Glass studied sound documents and sheet music of Tyrolese folk-music. In the Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra he used original folk-music source material directly for the first time.

In 1990 Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar—whom Mr. Glass recognizes as "one of his teachers" —collaborated on a recording entitled Passages. This project brought full circle a process that began in 1965, when Glass, a promising young American musician met Indian Sitar master Ravi Shankar in Paris while Glass was earning pocket money doing notation for a soundtrack recording session.

Dennis Russell Davies’ close friendship with Philip Glass and his intense understanding and support of Mr. Glass’ work has led to many successful collaborations and will, no doubt, result in many more. Orange Mountain Music is proud to present these recordings of the Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra and Mr. Davies’ arrangements of Selections from Passages.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A magnificent composition and recording, December 7, 2004

By 

Russel Stolins (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dennis Russell Davies Performs Philip Glass (Audio CD)

There are passages on this album that make my heart sing! The concerto features themes that are classic Glass without being retreads of past work. Each movement has its moments to savor. Of the three pieces from "Passages" I like Meetings From the Edge the best, with its joyously boisterous woodwind passages. My collection of Glass' work is extensive and although this is the newest, it is already one of my favorites.

As has happened so many times over the years, Philip Glass continues to amaze and delight me with compositions that are at once familiar yet new. This album is further proof of how worthwhile it is to continue this decades-long journey.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hypnotic, November 15, 2006

By 

Walter Fekula (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dennis Russell Davies Performs Philip Glass (Audio CD)

I first heard this haunting and beautiful music several weeks ago when I attended the American Ballet Theatre's fall season to see the world premier of a new work of the popular Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo titled "Glo - Stop" that used a movement from a Mozart Symphony (#28) for the first part and the second movement of this amazing work- "The Tirol Concerto For Piano and Orchestra". Philip holds his own against Wolfgang. Glass's compositions are easily recognizable and this work compares favorably with "In the Upper Room" made famous by the talented choreographer Twyla Tharp. How does one describe the impact on one's emotions of music? I purchased this superb recording by Dennis Russell Davies who plays the piano while conducting the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra and play it over and over. The Concerto is just short of 29 minutes in duration. The Concerto was commissioned by the Tirol Tourist Board and had its world premiere in Austria in September 2000. The CD is rounded out by a 1990 work - "Passages" which Glass wrote in collaboration with Ravi Shanker. This 27-minute work is worth listening to although it does not hold the same spell over me, as does the piano concerto. Lastly, I have no idea why the spelling "Tirol" is used rather than "Tyrol".

2 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre, August 20, 2007

By 

some1 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dennis Russell Davies Performs Philip Glass (Audio CD)

I have never found an approach to Glass, firstly because of his stressed will to PLEASE. You feel his intention and you are... DISpleased. And secondly because of his lack of fantasy. Both can be heard on this record, too. I wonder how one can sit in a concert and listen to this music without getting bored after five minutes - missing the movie. ("There must be something more going on, more than this background music. Where is the movie screen? This can only be movie music!") - In one word: mediocre.

PS: Those Tyrolians speak German (a weird kind of German, but it IS German), and in German "Tyrol" is spelled "Tirol". Stress on the second syllable. ;-)