Glass: Violin concerto

Philip Glass (Composer), Takuo Yuasa (Conductor), Ulster Orchestra (Orchestra), Adele Anthony (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Adele Anthony
• Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra
• Conductor: Takuo Yuasa
• Composer: Philip Glass
• Audio CD (May 16, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos American
• ASIN: B00004SYG9
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,468 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #2 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( G ) > Glass, Philip
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  #14 in	Music > Opera & Vocal > Historical Periods > Modern & 20th Century

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Philip Glass's signature doom-and-gloom minor sonorities and shifting rhythms scintillate and eddy under the touch of Adele Anthony and the Ulster Symphony. The solo line in the Violin Concerto is at odds with a unified orchestra throughout, and Anthony's romantic tone draws the listener in for an exploration of the texture, grain, and fiber of Glass's structural minimalism. The Ulster Symphony's rendering of Company and Akhnaten, under the leadership of Takuo Yuasa, forms brilliant darts of tonal color. As a musical adaptation of Samuel Beckett's prose of the same name, Company's dark ruminations are appropriate for the text's depiction of a solitary figure lying on his back in the dark. The orchestra seems aware of their repetitious mechanical task in performing these works, yet this human awareness is what makes Glass's orchestral work so compelling. --Alexis Odell

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Intro to Glass, May 14, 2004

By A Customer

This is the perfect CD for people who are curious about Glass but don't want to spend $20 on a CD they may wind up hating. For $6.99 this is a killer deal. Bear in mind that many of the people who have given this CD a poor review are already familiar with Glass' work. We'll assume that the reader is not. These pieces are interesting,beautifully played,and do provide an excellent introduction to Glass' work.If you've always wondered whether or not Glass is your thing, or even if you've never heard of the guy, how can you go wrong for $7? I say slap down your money and give him a chance. I've played this as often as I've played any of his symphonies and soundtracks.Go for it!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly great!, September 24, 2000

By	"vagombos" (West Covina, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I picked up this CD just out of curiousity (already having a number of other Glass works, and knowing nothing about the Violin Concerto). This was among the better (serendipitous) selections I have ever made -- the Violin Concerto has become one of my favorites by Glass! While elements of this piece are very reminiscent of other works by the composer, it has a distinct style -- oftentimes, even showing elements of classical (traditional) styles in the movement between violin and orchestra. Especially for the price, and for this Violin Concerto, I recommend this CD!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars full orchestral treatment of major works, August 12, 2005

By	Eric "seric26" (Somerville, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This is one of those items that I feel hasn't gotten a really on-target review. I'm not sure a CD by one composer is the place to discuss the merits of his whole genre of music. Admittedly I write from a perspective of a fan of minimalism and of Philip Glass. And for someone knowledgable of the field and of Glass's output, this CD has strong appeal.

First, the Naxos price is a bargain. They're really serving a role in making challenging, sometimes rarely heard music available to a classical audience that doesn't have to be also an elite or wealthy one. Each of their composer-centered CDs seems carefully considered in order to provide both strong performances and well-chosen material as an introduction to the entire oeuvre of that master.

In particular, this CD shows a few sides of Glass, in the lush and comfortable setting of full orchestral performances (quite different from his chamber, solo piano, self-played or even soundtrack work). The two pieces from his opera Akhnaten that close out the disc offer wonderfully evocative melodies. Once meant to be sung or performed with bright visuals and actors, these arrangements focus only on the strength of his melodies and harmonies, with a full pallette of color and emotions in what must be read as his homage to an ancient and tragically odd, lost kingdom. There's a stately spirituality in this music that well evokes pyramids, desert sand and the rays of the sun god.

"Company" consists of busy short pieces typical of Glass's 80s work, and the Violin Concerto is his first major concert-hall work, not commissioned in support of any other project or medium. It provides a memorable showcase for violinist Adele Anthony.

However, I do have some quibbles, as one often does with Naxos cds. The recording levels are low, and there's not a lot of distinction between instruments in the mix. I'm all for a more aggressive, rock-style approach to both the playing and recording of classical music, and the Naxos label is frequently too timid on this front.