Customer Reviews

Inside the Kremlin

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I cannot believe my ears. This album is amazing! The combination of Indian and Russian music was something I never even thought of.This album is now the CD that has been played the most in my player.I HIGHLY recommend this album to anyone with a need to explore the unknown.

Shankar's compositions masterfully reveal the beauty encompassing individual elements of the vast and diverse elements collected under Indian music. Lovers of Indian music of all sort can enjoy this cd: example, having listened to many tabla solos/jugalbandis, the brief mukha-vadyam(tabla syllables recited>played) jugalbandi's thrilling complexity, the two players combining in a result unacheivable through improvised recitations; rhythm, vocal, folk songs combine under a classical backdrop, the juxtaposition/blending of the instruments is amazing, be it when an angelic indian women singing in shanti-mantra is followed up by the hallowing glory of the Russian chorus, or the indian flute, sitar, violin, santoor, sarangi, shehnai playing shankar's involved peices. The texture is very rich. Bahu-rang: camel riding folk musicians will make you bust out dancing in the middle of the desert/or Listen to the moment in bahu-rang when a women sings a hindi love song to you, her style, listen to it, her style is indescribable- so tender/sensitive/Raw like a lonesome virgin waiting to be made love to - That moment should be enough for your 15 bucks :)

This is the single cd that opened my ears to world music. This is an outstanding musical meeting of two cultures with a master at the lead. People familiar with Ravi Shankar know he is an absolute virtuoso sitarist, but this cd shows how amazing his composing skills are as well. All of the performers on this cd are amazing, and the compositions cover every emotion. Although I've bought other Shankar cd's, this one remains my favorite.

Love this album. It's amazing. Ravi shankar was hired to compose for an ensemble of over 100 musicians for a performance at an Indian festival at the Kremlin. He more than rose to the challenge. At times it sounds like a soundtrack recording, but still...it's amazing. Dare I say tour de force...all the way through from second one.

If you're looking for mainly Ravi Shankar maybe look elsewhere as he is pushed somewhat into the background of the recording by the grand scale of the ensemble, but he does manage to shine through...brilliantly.

This cd takes me on a journey into India, I love this cd. I have had it since it came out years ago, it is played most often on my cd player. By the way I generally listen to alternative rock, but this is an amazing peice of art.

One of Ravi Shankar's best performances. The tunes are so haunting. You will never grow tired of listening to this one. The raags presented will take you on an emotional rollercoaster.

Lots of very enjoyable music on this CD. The centre piece is the long musical tour through Indian music called Bahu Rang (means lots of colors in hindi if I'm not mistaken) has many great moments, like the scat sung "drum solo" and the typical South Indian temple music coming near the end of the tune. I've had the cd for years, someone stole it from me recently and I bought this copy.

A buddy of mine loaned this to me and I enjoyed it so much, I purchased my own copy. Put this on while you are doing anything around your house and it will play very nicely in the background. Love it.

This typically contrived, multi-cultural Shankar experiment takes a while to get cranked up, but once it does, you won't know whether to dance on the seat of your pants or hip hop with Krishna.

Ravi joins his own ensemble to the Russian Folk Ensemble, the Government Chorus of Ministry of Culture of USSR, & the chamber orchestra of the Moscow Philharmonic. He composed all the music. The Moscow Philharmonic ensemble doesn't fare too swell with the three ragas, but it's thrilling to hear the Government Chorus singing along with Ravi's crack percussion unit. & Ravi does play it straight a few times. The 25 minute, five movement closer, Bahu-Rang, based on Raga Mishra Pilu, rises to an ecstatic mix of voices, balaikas, sitar & South Asian riddems. Everyone seems to be having a great time. Curried cavier, anyone?

Bob Rixon