Customer Reviews

Garbage Concerto/ Rock Symphony

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I was travelling home across town one night in the car in March 1998 when I heard a remarkable piece of classical music that was to change my life. I found out, after much effort, that it was the 4th Symphony of Latvian composer Imants Kalnins, and finally got hold of a copy of the 1997 Liepaja Symphony Orchestra recording on the Latvian Remix label, unavailable at that time (and today) except through Balticshop.com or, in the USA, SVEIKS.com. I found out that Kalnins is a hero to the people of latvia, and that he also writes and records wonderful rock on the UPE label of Ainars Mielavs (UPE.parks.lv). I began pestering the boss of BIS, the very urbane Robert von Bahr, to record some Kalnins music, as I felt it should be available more easily in the public domain, not knowing (as neither did he!) that a recording of the 'Rock Symphony' was already in the pipeline there! Robert eventually asked me to write the liner note for this new recording, which gave me enormous pleasure. I enjoyed talking to Kalnins and Lan Shui the conductor of the SSO, but, a little sadly, I cannot say that I find this recording as thrilling and majestic as the 1997 CD. Too much Rock and not enough Symphony? Perhaps Lan Shui has substituted the rock drumkit and electric guitars of that 1997 recording with kettle drums and pizzicato strings, but the subtlety and drive of the original is compromised by the overfast tempo and thin string arrangements of this BIS recording, I fear. Nonetheless, I do recommend itheartily, and I am thrilled to see Kalnins' material finally getting issued on a recognised and easily available record label of BIS' renown. I don't know what to think of the Garbage Concerto. ~I don't find it satisfying. Just start playing the disc at track 4, perhaps?

The Garbage Concerto is essentially a percussion concerto -- very lively and accessible.

The Rock Symphony is fun to listen to until the final movement, when the vocal part seems contrived and pretentious.

If you are expanding your collection of modern music, this would be a fun addition.