Search - Oue: cnd/Minnesota Orchestra :: Respighi: Belkis, Queen of Sheba

Excellent Performance and Recording

127 | Michigan | 01/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an excellently played album that stacks up to any of the bigger name orchestras. The selections include a standard (The Pines) and two lesser-knowns (Belkis and The Gnomes). Oue is a conductor who lets no detail slip past his attention and his orchestra is first-rate from top to bottom. I was particularly struck by the woodwind solos throughout and by Oue's ability to shape melodic lines, letting them breathe when necessary and making it very musical. The slow movements here are slower than in other recordings but the music never drags or gets dull.This is only the second Belkis recording to my knowledge and it is excellent. Winds, strings, and percussion are excellent throughout, although the brass need more punch at the beginning of the War Dance (they find it later in the CD so it isn't a question of ability). Also, the wordless tenor chant in the final movement seemed more random than meaningful. It's a relatively minor part in the suite and I think he should have opted to leave it to the trumpet (the composer-sanctioned alternative option). The slow movements are beautiful and throughout the suite, as in the rest of the CD, balance, ensemble, and intonation are all outstanding. The Dance of the Gnomes is a new one to me although I did enjoy the music. The inspiration is a macabre poem about dual gnome brides killing their mutual husband on the wedding night and although the poem (text included) describes some nasty events, the music stays relatively tame. The Pines recording stacks up to any I've heard and is a definite challenge to Reiner and Chicago. I found some of the solos (especially clarinet) better than Reiner's and, again, Oue's tempos are slower but the music is very beautiful and expressive. The brass are also up to the challenge with the requisite power in IV and excellent sound and control in other areas (particularly high brass). Recording quality is excellent on the whole CD and we get to enjoy a few seconds of reverb at the end of Pines.Oue has an excellent group of players and I look forward to hearing more of their work."

Exciting!

127 | 10/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All in all a very well-done rendition of the pieces involved. The Pines of Rome, the most well-known piece on this disc, is performed extremely well, although a bit slower than many versions. I personally thought the first movement could have gone a bit faster, but that is just a matter of taste. I also would have liked to hear more organ in the second movement, however the acoustic is still very broad here as in all of Reference Recordings discs. The third movement is one of the best ever done, thanks in part to a slower tempo that allows for maximum expression, and a killer clarinet solo by principal Burt Hara. The last movement is everything one would expect, although Oue masks some lines in favor of others not normally heard in some places.The other peices on this disc are also done exceptionally well and are just as delightful to hear as the the Pines. I would highly recommend this disc to anyone."

Finally, a 2nd "Belkis"!

Dave Johnson | skaneateles, NY United States | 11/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Th e previous 2 reviewers extoll "PINES" . Who cares! "BELKIS: QUEEN OF SHEBA" has only been once recorded. I had always dreamed of another, I have not been disappointed! Glorious! Special attention has been paid to detail, not evident in Geoffrey Simon's rendition (BBC or Philharmonia, I forget, in my rapture). Crystal clear recording (Reference Recordings start in analog).Oue has done splendidly. Of course, as a member of the International Respighi Society (sadly, 1 of only 7 in N. America- many more in Europe), I am hard pressed to find fault with any renderings of Respighi's.BONUS: BALLAD OF THE GNOMES (only 3 or 4) . This one is tied with, again, Geoffrey Simon's. But sonically-this recording is superior."