Kevin G. (kkg-ct) from NEW FAIRFIELD, CT Reviewed on 8/19/2016...
Rave reviews entirely deserved. Saw it was posted, if briefly , and compelled to ad hosanna's. Love Ravi and the breadth of his and fellow players skill. The discipline of a concert setting and appreciation of that audience help propel this disc over the top. For and world music fan, or the most casual listener willing to experiment a bit, run , don't walk for this one!
CD Reviews
Was this album recorded by an earthling?
04/16/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I cannot believe my ears. This album is amazing! The combination of Indian and Russian music was something I never even thought of.This album is now the CD that has been played the most in my player.I HIGHLY recommend this album to anyone with a need to explore the unknown."
Extremely moving
David | Portland, OR United States | 02/24/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the single cd that opened my ears to world music. This is an outstanding musical meeting of two cultures with a master at the lead. People familiar with Ravi Shankar know he is an absolute virtuoso sitarist, but this cd shows how amazing his composing skills are as well. All of the performers on this cd are amazing, and the compositions cover every emotion. Although I've bought other Shankar cd's, this one remains my favorite."
"Shankar's compositions masterfully reveal the beauty encompassing individual elements of the vast and diverse elements collected under Indian music. Lovers of Indian music of all sort can enjoy this cd: example, having listened to many tabla solos/jugalbandis, the brief mukha-vadyam(tabla syllables recited>played) jugalbandi's thrilling complexity, the two players combining in a result unacheivable through improvised recitations; rhythm, vocal, folk songs combine under a classical backdrop, the juxtaposition/blending of the instruments is amazing, be it when an angelic indian women singing in shanti-mantra is followed up by the hallowing glory of the Russian chorus, or the indian flute, sitar, violin, santoor, sarangi, shehnai playing shankar's involved peices. The texture is very rich. Bahu-rang: camel riding folk musicians will make you bust out dancing in the middle of the desert/or Listen to the moment in bahu-rang when a women sings a hindi love song to you, her style, listen to it, her style is indescribable- so tender/sensitive/Raw like a lonesome virgin waiting to be made love to - That moment should be enough for your 15 bucks :)"
This is one on my must own list
jimmy | FAYETTEVILLE, AR | 12/15/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This cd takes me on a journey into India, I love this cd. I have had it since it came out years ago, it is played most often on my cd player. By the way I generally listen to alternative rock, but this is an amazing peice of art."
Amazing
Christopher M. Nabity | USA | 07/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Love this album. It's amazing. Ravi shankar was hired to compose for an ensemble of over 100 musicians for a performance at an Indian festival at the Kremlin. He more than rose to the challenge. At times it sounds like a soundtrack recording, but still...it's amazing. Dare I say tour de force...all the way through from second one.
If you're looking for mainly Ravi Shankar maybe look elsewhere as he is pushed somewhat into the background of the recording by the grand scale of the ensemble, but he does manage to shine through...brilliantly."