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Monthly Archive: December 2011

Viola Tango Rock Concerto (2009/2011)

Viola Tango Rock Concerto (2009/2011)

by | Dec 2, 2011 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

Viola Tango Rock Concerto (2009/2011) Composer: Benjamin Yusupov Performers: Anibal Dos Santos, violas; Gina Medina, dancer; Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota/ Ricardo Jaramillo Studio: Navona Records NV5865 [11/15/11] (Distr. by Naxos) Video: 4:3 color Audio: DD 5.1, DD 2.0 Length: 52 minutes Rating: **** This video from classical label Navona sort of fits in with many of their CDs breaking down some of the borders between classical music and other genres.  It’s certainly a most unusual concerto, to say the least. Russian violist/violinist Maxim Vengerov called it “the greatest concerto ever written for the viola.” Don’t know if I would go that far, but must admit it’s unique. The work was originally commissioned by Vengerov in 2003 from Russian composer Yusupov. This is a video of its 2009 performance in Bogota, and has Dos Santos playing both a standard viola and a fancy electronic model in one movement, plus an accordionist, and both acoustic and electric guitarists. The six movements of the concerto flow into one another. The first two movements are like modern symphonic works, but then the drums, bongos, electric guitars and electric bass come in and stage lights begin to do their thing. Later there is some soloing […]

Editorial for December 2011

by | Dec 1, 2011 | Editorial

To be one of the lucky seven readers to receive the pair of Analogue Productions reissue SACDs this month, you will need to register on the site using our simple non-intrusive email-protected form. The first SACD is Gentle Ben, a 1972 session in Barcelona—one of the unique and rich-sounding saxist’s last recordings, together with Catalan pianist Tete Montoliu. The second SACD is Dexter Calling—with saxist Gordon playing in a quartet with Kenny Drew, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. Recorded in 1961, the session has some Gordon originals, including his music for the stage play The Connection. Both SACDs were skillfully remastered directly from the original Blue Note stereo analog masters, and are distributed by Harmonia mundi. The seven winners will announced here in early January. Here are the ten winners of the 11-CD PentaTone SACD set The First 10 Years—our November drawing: Donald Wright, San Jose CA; Doug Makofka, Willow Grove PA; Dan Ferguson, Puyallup WA; Ernest Powell, Saint Albans WV; Frank Zoeckler, Encinitas CA; Peter Barach, Cleveland Heights OH; Rob Bertrando, Reno NV; Ruth Dreher, Tulsa OK, James Mitchell, Chicago IL & Frederick Welfel, Shaker Heights OH.  Congrats to all! [audaud-hr] EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began in 1985 as […]