Search - Ian Krouse, Dinosaur Annex, James Sedares :: Rhapsody for Violin & Orch / Tientos & Other Works

Breathtaking, brilliant music of incredible power!

Armaze | Denton, TX USA | 01/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though by no means a classical expert, I am very familiar with the great orchestral works and, in terms of complexity, power, beauty, and scope, I would have to say "Rhapsody" appears to be the most inspired piece I have ever heard.

This recording is the ideal performance of Krouse's masterpiece for Orchestra, "Rhapsody", undoubtedly the main focus of my review, in that the orchestration and conducting are superb and very attentive to detail while the violin solos are, at the hands of the brilliant Maria Bachmann, imbued, in every note, with the heart-wrenching humanity that is so central to this work.

Opening with an epic introduction, "Rhapsody" continues through a quiet violin lament that grows more and more violently beautiful as it approaches the orchestra's re-entrance that can only be related as one of those rare, musical moments that one finds among all the great works and never forgets.

The other three pieces on the disc, "Tientos", "Cuando se abre en la manana", and "Thamar y Amnon", are more reminiscent of Krouse's background in classical guitar but, though clever and certainly demonstrative of the composer's tradition of flamenco style, they do not approach the impact of "Rhapsody".

In conclusion, music lovers everywhere deserve to hear this rare and remarkable, yet strangely unsung, orchestral masterpiece.

"