Schnittke: Konzert fĂ1/4r Viola und Orchester / Kancheli: Vom Winde beweint (liturgy)

Giya Kancheli (Composer), Alfred Schnittke (Composer), Dennis Russell Davies (Conductor), Beethovenhalle Orchestra (Orchestra), Saarbrucken Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Beethovenhalle Orchestra, Saarbrucken Radio Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies
• Composer: Giya Kancheli, Alfred Schnittke
• Audio CD (August 8, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ecm Records
• ASIN: B00000E55X
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #348,603 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Schnittke Viola Concerto: tearing the soul, January 29, 2004

By 

villegem "villegem" (canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Schnittke: Konzert fĂ1/4r Viola und Orchester / Kancheli: Vom Winde beweint (liturgy) (Audio CD)

This is in my opinion the best recording of the Viola Concerto despite some technical challenges - in particular some pitch issues with the viola. Yet, the energy of both soloist and orchestra carry the work's dramaturgy and leave your soul feeling like you just experienced all human emotions.
The soloist and orchestra have a global vision of this work often lacking in other recordings even by Bashmet or Van Keulen that seem to juxtapose various sections without a sense of the whole.
A must have.

P.S. JF Laurson kindly reminded me that I am not a professional reviewer and sometimes I just write my enthusiasm without hoping these scribblings would make the Academy of letters...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Schnittke Viola Concerto... a refreshing slap in the face!, August 29, 2007

By 

Donald G. Hite III "clarinetist extraordinaire!" (Houston, Tx USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Schnittke: Konzert fĂ1/4r Viola und Orchester / Kancheli: Vom Winde beweint (liturgy) (Audio CD)

The first time I listened to the Schnittke Viola Concerto, I was a bit confused by it. After several listenings, however, I've really grown to love it. From a musical standpoint, it is very modern sounding, but still melodic enough to be easily enjoyed (particularly when just listening casually). I particularly like the fast second movement. There are some very interesting orchestral effects and the viola part is powerful and delightfully schizophrenic. Since the viola is so frequently type-cast as the mournful, introspective instrument, it's particularly refreshing to hear a piece where the viola puts it all out there, stylistically speaking.

Kashkashian (whose sound sometimes is a little harsh/bright for me) really shines in concertos (her Bartok is also incredible). She pretty much has the clarity of a violin, and her sound projects well in all registers. Her vibrato is a bit wide in a few spots (particularly the slow middle section of the 2nd movement), though I'm a bit torn about it (some days I dislike it... other days I think it works).

The Kancheli is pretty slow and it's one of those pieces that requires you to constantly monitor the volume (turning it up to full blast to try to hear the whisper quiet sections, only to suddenly have your ear drums exploded by an unexpected blast of fortissimo), and that irritates me as a listener. I don't really have an opinion on the piece because I haven't listened to it enough to really understand it, so maybe a more patient person would enjoy it.

I haven't heard any other recordings of this (I have seen the DVD w/ Bashmet though) so I don't have much basis for comparison. However, as a stand alone recording, I think Kashkashian's Schnittke has plenty of enjoyment to offer the listener.

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Well played, but not as compelling as Bashmet, March 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Schnittke: Konzert fĂ1/4r Viola und Orchester / Kancheli: Vom Winde beweint (liturgy) (Audio CD)

Kashkashian plays the Schnittke very well from a technical perspective, but it somehow lacks some of the intensity and emotion that Bashmet brings to his performance. Some of the nuances and her style of playing does not sound quite right to me when I hear this work. It almost comes off as obnoxious at times. (No offense to Kashkashian and her incredible technique.) Bashmet on the other hand brings a wider range of sounds and moods that I find rather lacking here.

I also found that the orchestra sounds rather distant and unclear at times. The orchestra that accompanies Bashmet's RCA recording sounds very clear and many of the finer details can be heard better.