Legends [Single]

Ittai Shapira (Artist), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Artist, Orchestra), Daniel Barenboim (Artist, Conductor), BBC Concert Orchestra (Artist), Charles Hazlewood (Artist), Shulamit Ran (Composer), Ittai Shapira (violin) (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Ittai Shapira (violin)
• Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Daniel Barenboim
• Composer: Shulamit Ran
• Audio CD (December 1, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single
• Label: Albany Records
• ASIN: B000Z6RH64
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #464,520 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Legends

2. Violin Concerto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Hit and Ran" D.Barenboim on the night of Legends Premiere., February 20, 2008

By 

Ryan Morris "classical terrorist" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Legends (Audio CD)

I was at the Legends premiere(Janacek Taras Bulba and Berg seven songs for Orch rounded out the show" and met Barenboim and Shulamit Ran after the performance. At the time, I not too keen on modern music, but the Legends appealed to me(one of the first modern works to due so) and I told her as much after the show. I think I actually told her it reminded me of Messiaen(I had no clue.)
I had kept an eye out for a recording of the work ever since and was thrilled to see the exact show I was at(or a splicing of the three performances) make it to disc. It is interesting how the music sounds half a decade and a seemingly lifetimes accumulation of musical knowledge and acceptance later. After hearing much modern music, most of it blimp-bloop strategic noise, this almost sounds restrained in a sense and much of what I enjoyed the first time is even more enjoyable now. It is beautiful music, and modern, but never vulgar or obnoxious, a requirement of most modern classical music---"lets shock and see how far we can take it." Not here, this is solidly crafted, appealing music with much jewish influence in the harmony's and melodic content-both works.
The violin concerto was icing on the cake and, to my surprise, the better piece overall. It begins with a subtle and beautiful solo violin opening and, in a similar hessianic idiom, continues to blend a semi-romantic feeling with modern rhythmic and orchestral colors. To provide an idea of the sound--imagine a blend of Rautavaara, Stravinsky, Messiaen, Bartok, Maw, and Tuur.
Highly recommended.