Steven R. Gerber: Cello Concerto; Violin Concerto; Serenade for String Orchestra

Kurt Nikkanen (Artist), Carter Brey (Artist), Steven R. Gerber (Composer), Piotr Gajewski (Conductor), National Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: National Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Piotr Gajewski
• Composer: Steven R. Gerber
• Audio CD (September 26, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Int'l Classics
• ASIN: B00004WJM9
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,725 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Violin Concerto: Moderato, con moto

2. Violin Concerto: Lento non troppo - Cadenza

3. Violin Concerto: Molto Allegro

4. Cello Concerto: Moderato

5. Cello Concerto: Maestoso - Presto - Maestoso - Presto

6. Cello Concerto: Passacaglia: Andante con moto

7. Serenade for String Orchestra: Andante - Allegro - Andante

8. Serenade for String Orchestra: Introduction; Theme and Variations

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a surprise!, September 26, 2000

By 

George Knox (berwyn, pa United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Steven R. Gerber: Cello Concerto; Violin Concerto; Serenade for String Orchestra (Audio CD)

What a surprise! This is really moving music, poignant and beautifully sad at moments. If you like the Barber violin concerto, the Gerber violin concerto has put just a little more vinegar into the mix making it, I think, even a bit better. You also hear suggestions of other famous violin concertos, Brahms, Sibelius, Shostakovich, but no quotes and not in ironic "quotation marks" either, but really just as something you and the composer share as you listen to this new violin concerto. The soloist is terrific, playing what must be difficult passages with great flair and personality. The orchestra is perfectly good, though at one moment I wished it had more "Philadelphia smoothness." An unexpected treasure! I thought Classical Music was supposed to be going into decline, at least in the non-opera departments. It is wonderful to have a new violin concerto that is as emotionally involving as some of the great famous ones of the past.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant!, October 16, 2000

By 

Sandeep Talati (White Plains, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Steven R. Gerber: Cello Concerto; Violin Concerto; Serenade for String Orchestra (Audio CD)

This CD is masterful in its performance. A must have for any serious classical music buff.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good if you like this sort of thing..., September 2, 2005

By 

Finzi and Barber fan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Steven R. Gerber: Cello Concerto; Violin Concerto; Serenade for String Orchestra (Audio CD)

These concertos are both run of the mill neo romantic concertos, with not much new to say. They are however good examples of neo-Romantic music if you like this style. They are not however inspired and contrary to the other reviewer's opinion, are certainly not better than Barber's essays in the genre, which remain two of the greatest string concertos of the last century. Both concertos lack basic inspiration, unlike the Barber concertos, which glitter with brilliance and lyricism.

This is not awful music, its just not exceptional. The pieces are well played and the soloists are both clearly comitted; the recordings are first class. If you can get it cheap in the used and new, and like neo-romantic music, go for it.