Search - Christopher Mohr, Theodore Kuchar, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine :: Christopher Mohr: From the Realm of the Shadow

Amateurish, Juvenile Music At best

composerinbalitmore | Baltimore, MD United States | 11/19/2002

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Music composition, like playing an instrument, is an art that posesses a technique and a discipline to acheive mastery and control over the material at hand. Though there are some composers who were self taught and got on the right path, Mohr isn't one of them. This music is simplistic in conception, badly orchestrated,loosely held together, and reminds me of a lot of music I and other composers were writing as sophomores in college. Also, the CD is not mixed well and is poorly edited (if at all). The only merit this work has (and possibly the only reason this ever got recorded) is a fascinating story behind the piece that would undoubtedly sell a few copies to those who care to spend the money (BTW- don't spend the money, buy a milkshake or something instead). Why did you do this, NAXOS? Oh, why!!!"

Transformative music

Andrea Silver | Denver, Colorado | 05/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to Chris Mohr's opera was a very moving experience. I spent an evening by myself listening and reading along with the powerfully descriptive text. The music was beautiful, lyrical and innovative. It elicited a journey of my own in which I explored moving through pain to peace. I highly recommend this musical healing experience."

Amateurish, pretentious

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 09/02/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"When I saw this in the store I bought it on impulse. So many of the Naxos American Music series recordings, even of unheard of composers like Carter Pann, have been so good. When I opened it and saw that the composer is 'self-taught', I thought, 'Uh oh!' And, I'm sorry to say, my initial skepticism was borne out. The scenario is pretentious in the extreme, undergirded by half-baked Jungian philosophy. The music itself is amateurish, poorly composed, poorly orchestrated, not terribly well performed.I have a guess: it is conducted by Theodore Kuchar, an excellent conductor. He had premiered it with his Boulder, Colorado, orchestra, and and has now recorded it with the Ukraine National Symphony, of which he is also the conductor. He has made many recordings for Naxos and Marco Polo. I suspect he was allowed to record this twaddle as payback for his Herculean services to the those labels. Is Mohr is cousin or something? It must be something like that. Sheesh."