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Ida
Haendel In Recital
Ida Haendel (violin)
Valentina Lisitsa, piano
VAI AUDIO VAIA 1219 Reviewed by RP
Ida Haendel’s collaboration with the young Ukrainian pianist Valentina
Lisitsa recorded “live” at the Newport Music Festival in 2000
is an infectious, fluid and frequently charming passage through a musical
programme that balances the beauty, delicacy and contemplative qualities
of Beethoven’s Sonata No.7 and the Mozart Sonata in B flat major
K.378 with the inherent virtuosity found in this violinist’s signature
piece, J.S. Bach’s Chaconne from Partita No.2. The remaining works:
Wieniawski’s Polonaise No.1 and the Dvorak Romantic Pieces OP.75
are respectively delivered with sparkle and tremendous affection. While
this is not one of those chamber partnerships that has been forged over
decades, there is still a genuine sense of togetherness within the performances,
partly because the grand dame of violin is so generous. Allowing Lisitsa
the appropriate opportunities to influence the musical development is
a tour de force that adds to that collective sense of continuity, momentum
and flow. The result is an authoritative, sincere and intelligent recital,
the qualities of which seem to have under-whelmed or completely passed
by an audience that must have anticipated the emotional strip mining of
these works.
These are much more deserving accounts than their muted applause suggests.
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Jennifer
Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat 20th Anniversary Edition
Shout Factory/Cisco Records CIS 7060 Reviewed by RP
FBR is an iconic audiophile record and Jennifer Warnes is by reputation
a perfectionist of the first order in just about every facet of her music.
This also extends to all matters where reissues and re-masters of her
albums are concerned. She is an extremely possessive and hands on artist
and I imagine her collaboration with Bernie Grundman and Cisco was far
from straight forward during the re-mastering process. However, the results
are spectacular and put simply, Jenny sings Lenny like you’ve never
heard it before. This is a sumptuous sounding and beautifully presented
three-record box. Cut at 45rpm, FBR now has an improved momentum and a
deeper bass, which strengthens the rhythmic sense of Jenny’s delivery
as it propels us through these exceptional and well-loved Leonard Cohen
songs. The transparency, delineation and overall presentation of her delicious
vocals are verisimilitude in vinyl.
Additional tracks: a live ‘Joan Of Arc’; ‘If It Be Your
Will’; ‘Ballad Of The Runaway Horse’; ‘Night Comes
On’ and an amazing demo version of ‘A Singer Must Die’
are worth the entrance fee alone. They also serve another important purpose.
Their presence rejuvenates an album known so intimately by so many. It
prevents any chance of familiarity breeding contempt.
Supplier: www.redsparkmusic.com |
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