Customer Reviews

Vasks: Cello Concert

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This CD contains two very powerful works by the contemporary Latvian composer Peteris VASKS. Both the Sympony for strings and the Cello concerto are wonderful. However, I was blown away by the concerto. Yes, there are influences from Prokofiev and Shostakovich but this is deeper stuff. Vasks is more spiritual, more daring, and more magical. Riga Philharmonic and Mr. Geringas play as if possessed. Try also Vasks' chamber music available on Conifer Classics label.

Vasks is emerging as one of the most interesting and musically satisfying of this "new" generation of composers that has emerged since the fall of the Soviet empire. This CD from Conifer contains two excellent pieces that may well be his best yet. Vasks's Cello Concerto, a major work lasting more than half an hour, is in five movements, each of which sounds rich and satisfying. Vasks can sometimes get the orchestra to play unusual sounds, but it never seems to be done for effect: musical integrity is his hallmark. This is a major cello concerto, and cello lovers owe it to themselves to audition this disk before adding yet another performance of the Dvorak concerto to their collections. The String Symphony is also a wonderful piece, inventive and evocative, a work that you will want to play again and again.

Works representative of Vasks's compositional style, particularly the String Symphony - Voices (Balsis) on the latter part of the CD. This work reflects some of Vasks's favored instrumentations as well as his aleatoric tendencies, producing unique effects on traditional instruments. The Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, however, seems to be a diversion from Vasks's typical style, featuring a melodiousness and passion that is a striking contrast against the String Symphony. The influences of both Prokofiev and Shostakovich are apparent--sometimes Vasks uses almost direct quotes of their compositions. However, this does not detract from Vasks's own tendencies and creates a work influenced by these composers but not dominated by them. David Geringas's performance is outstanding: his passion allows the solo cello to lead the orchestra as an equal contributor in the performance, without musical domination on the parts of soloist or orchestra.

Subjectively, the Concerto is an enjoyable, exciting listening experience that ebbs and flows to engage the listener and grow to powerful climaxes, particularly at the conclusion of the work. Overall, a high-quality recording, with some very slight glitches in a small number of instances, particularly with intonation. A pleasing and enjoyable listening experience!

No one is better than Prokofiev! Period!