Search - Ernesto Nazareth, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Astor Piazzolla :: West of the Sun: Music of the Americas

Ernesto Nazareth, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Astor Piazzolla
West of the Sun: Music of the Americas
Genres: International Music, Special Interest, Classical

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CD Details

All Artists: Ernesto Nazareth, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Astor Piazzolla, Alberto Ginastera, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Amy Beach, Margaret Bonds, William Bolcom, Samuel Barber, Joel Fan
Title: West of the Sun: Music of the Americas
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Reference Recordings
Release Date: 4/14/2009
Genres: International Music, Special Interest, Classical
Styles: Latin Music, Tango, Chamber Music, Historical Periods, Classical (c.1770-1830), Modern, 20th, & 21st Century, Instruments, Keyboard
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 030911111922

Synopsis

Album Description

Fan's last album, World Keys, debuted at #3 on the Billboard Classical chart! Joel Fan's second recital for RR further solidifies his reputation for innovative programming and dazzling keyboard technique. Drawing on composers from North and South America, Fan makes brilliant work of major sonatas by Ginastera and Barber, along with "entertainments" by Gottschalk, Piazzolla, and Villa-Lobos. Of particular interest are two little known works by Amy Beach and the African-American composer Margaret Bonds. Another highlight is the premiere recording of a recent suite by William Bolcom. "An expressive and intelligent artist, as well as a sophisticated citizen of the world." -- All Music Guide (****1/2 performance/****1/2 sound)

CD Reviews

Impressive

JG | Washington DC | 04/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I actually saw this artist live in Chicago and was really taken back. I would definitely recommend this album."

A lyrical tour de force

Tres | 05/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A dazzling album. I bought `West of the Sun' after seeing the pianist perform in NY last year at a thrilling concert at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Fan is as superb with the classics (i.e. Beethoven, Liszt) as he is with lesser-known 20th century composers. In this album, he concentrates more on the latter, especially on Latin American composers, to his credit. The Nazareth, Piazzolla and the Ginastera are marvelous, with jazzy rhythms and rich, multi-layered textures, and they provide a lighter, breezy counterpoint to a truly bravura performance of the Barber sonata. The entire album is a powerful and exuberant paean to the music of the Americas, and a joyous addition to today's sometimes pallid contemporary classical music scene."