Infernal Violins [includes DVD]

Camille Saint-Saens (Composer), Jacques Offenbach (Composer), Giuseppe Tartini (Composer), Francois Dompierre (Composer), Manuel de Falla (Composer), Franz Liszt (Composer), Niccolo Paganini (Composer), Luigi Boccherini (Composer), Traditional (Composer), Mick / Richards, Keith Jagger (Composer), Ennio Morricone (Composer), Carl Binder (Composer), Angèle Dubeau (Conductor), La Pietà (Performer, Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: La Pietà
• Orchestra: La Pietà
• Conductor: Angèle Dubeau
• Composer: Camille Saint-Saens, Jacques Offenbach, Giuseppe Tartini, Francois Dompierre, Manuel de Falla, et al.
• Audio CD (April 3, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Analekta
• ASIN: B00015EDL6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,964 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #83 in Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Historical Periods > Modern & 20th Century

Track Listings

1. Danse macabre, song for voice & orchestra

2. Allegro con fuoco - Lento - Allegro vivace - Andante

3. Allegro

4. I. Larghetto affettuoso

5. II. Allegro energico...III. Grave - Allegro assai

6. The Devil's Beauties, for strings

7. Pantomima

8. Danza ritual del fuego

9. Mephisto Waltz, for orchestra No. 1 (Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke; Episo

10. Le Diable matou, for strings

11. Caprice for solo violin in A minor (Theme & Variations), Op. 1/24, MS 2

12. The Devil's Reel

13. Andante sostenuto -

14. Allegro con molto

15. Medley: Paint It Black / Sympathy for the Devil

16. The Devil

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Angèle Dubeau is a remarkable violinist, and here, she and her all-woman, 12-strong (including herself) group, La Pieta, tackle some of the showiest---and most interesting---virtuoso pieces composed or transposed for solo violin and strings, in various combinations, and occasionally featuring a piano. The violin tone at the start of Saint-Saens' Danse Macabre has a warmth which stays with us throughout the disc, despite the fact that so many of the pieces are razzle-dazzle. Hearing the delicious can-can from the overture to Orpheus in the Underworld so thrillingly played, with as much emphasis on the piano as the violin, is a treat, and the "Fire dance" from El amor brujo positively throbs. There's great skill---even daring---in the Tartini "Devil's Trill" sonata and a Boccherini Sonata, but the string tone never turns strident. And as a complete surprise, Dubeau and her group offer an arrangement of The Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black" which teases and riffs before getting into the melody, then plays it in the lower reaches of the instrument, and is then joined by the piano, allowing it to reach upwards and jazzily improvise---and then she throws in a moment or two of "Sympathy for the Devil" (!) before it concludes with the original melody. There are other joys on this CD as well---this is not your everyday violin bon-bon recital. It's all highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Product Description

This mischievious recital celebrates works inspired by the Devil: from Tartini's Devil's Trill, written after the composer dreamt that he had sold his soul to the Devil, to the infernal whirlwinds of Saint-Saën's Danse Macabre and Dompierre's Les Beautés du diable, composed specifically for La Pietà. It also pays homage to Paganini, the famed violinist who once confided to a friend that the Devil led him by the hand. This program shows an impish sense of humor as well... it features a unique arrangement of The Rolling Stones' Paint it Black and Sympathy for the Devil! • Angèle Dubeau is one of Canada's most prominent recording artists. belonging to the exclusive group of Canadian classical soloists who can boast of having attained "gold" sales status. She is also the founder and director La Pietá. • This CD is packaged with a bonus DVD featuring video clips and live concert excerpts.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Infernal Violins, April 11, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Infernal Violins [includes DVD] (Audio CD)

This music is fantastic. Because the violin she uses is a Stradovarius, the music pours like liquid velvet out of it. The choices of compositions are fantastic also. I think her interpretation of them along with the violin and her back-up group are what make this album so outstanding.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Emotional, Powerful, Fizzy, May 18, 2005

By 

Sara Ferguson "sparehouse" (Upper Valley, VT & NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Infernal Violins [includes DVD] (Audio CD)

Long a stodgy devotee of baroque music, with the first few notes of this strong stuff I became an addict. Over and over again I play this CD, never quite anticipating the power and emotional bang of the music as it plays - even though I know the notes by now. If you ever studied Walter Piston's "harmony" the structures and transitions are back-of-the-book stuff, but the push is all elemental, basic, built-in, the familiar 1-4-5 with musical sequins, trampolines, backflips, and gelginite. Wow. And then some.

I'm so besotted, I had a couple of 13-year old boys (my son and a friend) listen to it in the car one day. They were bug-eyed after a couple of cuts, and not with horror. Now they ask for it, and yell with glee when the musical tension breaks over their heads in crashing chords.

Can I add a few more stars?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FABULOUS!, February 14, 2007

By 

drama lover (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Infernal Violins [includes DVD] (Audio CD)

I ADORE this CD. I first heard it on the local classical music station and my ears picked right up. "What IS that?" It was so alive, so vibrant. The station only plays it about once a year, but each time it catches my attention. "Ah, that's Angele Dubeau." The selections are a mix of new and old. Two of the new pieces are by Francois Dompierre; his "Le Diable matou" is one of my favorites. I play this CD over and over and over...

I disagree with the reviewer who said you must love violin music to enjoy this. I do enjoy the violin, but I think the CD's power and reach go far beyond violin lovers.

The CD also includes a DVD of concert excerpts.

Give this CD a try. I'm so glad I did.