Area 31 – DAVID CHESKY: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; The Girl from Guatemala; Concerto for Flute and Orchestra

by | May 17, 2005 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews | 0 comments

Area 31 – DAVID CHESKY: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; The Girl
from Guatemala; Concerto for Flute and Orchestra – Tom Chiu, violin;
Wonjung Kim, soprano; Jeffrey Khaner, flute/Area 31 Ensemble/Anthony
Aibel – Chesky Records multichannel SACD288, 56:31 ***:

The Area 31 Ensemble after which the new SACD is titled is made up of
members from 13 different countries. They are devoted to performing and
recording new works challenging the assumed confines of modern
composition. All three of Chesky’s works here do just that in various
ways, and as a result are not as tonal or accessible as some of his
previous works, although a jazz sensibility adds interest. The Violin
Concerto is undeniably virtuosic, with the soloist’s part treated
something like a jazz solo. Different styles and influences are heard
in the concerto, including Latin and Brazilian rhythms. The shorter
Girl from Guatemala sets a poem by Cuban poet Jose Marti and is an ode
to unrequited love sung in the super-emotional flamenco style by Korean
soprano Kim.

Chesky’s Flute Concerto in a pastoral mood resonated best with me. In
the three-movement work Latin and Brazilian rhythms are again heard, as
well as Baroque and Flamenco in the first movement. The middle movement
is an adagio evocative of Argentine tango, while the finale is a
sprightly romp full of Latin tunes and flavor. Performances and
recording are first quality.

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