By mjmitchello
17-May-2010

The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto  

Amazing!! This CD is a must for anyone with a yearning to understand the dynamics of classical composition in grand Chinese fashion. Flowery, beautiful, mystical and eloquent all in one concerto. My wife's favorite CD.
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By nf136508
11-Feb-2013

Butterfly Lovers Concerto/ Tchaikovsky Concerto  

Violinist Gil Shaham gives a masterly performance on this fine CD from Canary Classics that couples Tchaikovsky's familiar and popular concerto with the less well-known Butterfly Lovers Concerto composed in the late 1950s by Gang Chen and Zhanhao He. The Chinese folk tale that inspired the piece comes beautifully to life with expert playing by the fine orchestra and instrumentalist, notably Jonathan Fox on Guban and cellist Nella Hunkins. In my view this recording is the best currently available of this easily accessible modern classic.

Throughout the recording the violin tone is sweet and lush and Gil Shaham effortlessly performs both works with style and verve. Considered unplayable at the time of writing, Shaham glides through the intricacies of the Tchaikovsky concerto while maintaining the excitement in the faster passages and the pathos of the many romantic and heart rending moments.

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra's playing is always clean and full sounding with conductor Shui Lan providing delicate but precise control. In the stirring big theme forms the first movement of Tchaikovsky. The pacing and vibrancy of the orchestra is absolutely spot-on giving a huge amount of excitement to the performance.

The recording is superb with the orchestra and solo instruments well-captured. The sound is always bright and full making this a recording that anyone would be proud to own.
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