Search - Carl Davis, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra :: Carl Davis: Aladdin

I'm Sure It Makes a Fine Ballet ...

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 11/24/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"... but for listening it's pretty nearly a bust. Two full hours of nicely orchestrated music, some amount of rhythmic interest, lots of big-movie-music effects, lots of uninspired melodies, blandness galore, nothing to offend anyone. The self-adoring booklet notes by Davis talk about his use of genuine Near Eastern and Asian characteristics but there's actually very little to be heard that sounds even remotely genuine. It's too much to ask for an arm-chair listener to sit through this much blandness at one sitting. As for excerpts, there may be a few one would like to hear again -- such as the neat Handelian chaconne (what is Handel doing in Aladdinland?) -- perhaps even enough to make up a twenty-minute concert suite. But, please, Carl Davis, stick to writing movie music; I liked what you did for 'Topsy Turvy' and for Abel Gance's silent film, 'Napoléon.' And perhaps if I'd been in the audience for the Scottish Ballet's 2000 presentation of the evening-length ballet 'Aladdin' I would have liked that.



The Malaysian Philharmonic (here under the composer's direction) is one of the success stories in the relatively recent Asian love affair with European classical music. Founded in the late 1990s and with players from twenty-five countries, it is a fine orchestra that has been making dozens of recordings, here given sparkling sound. Play on!



Scott Morrison

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