telynor's Full Review: Joshua Bell - Romance of the Violin
One of the most remarkable and accessable artists in the classical field is Joshua Bell. Showing a brilliant talent at a young age, he keeps going and refining his sound year after year, coming up with new sounds and blowing some dust off of hoary old favorites to make them sparkle with something fresh and new.
Back in the days before radio and sound recordings, popular tunes and short movements from concerti and symphonies would be transcribed or transferred, if you will, for other instruments than what they were originally composed for. Two of the most popular instruments were the piano and violin, and it?s proved to be a still popular sport today ? visit your local music store, and you?ll find arrangements of sheet music taken from the latest hits on Broadway.
On this selection of popular classical tunes, violinist Joshua Bell teams up with Michael Sterns and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. With such an accomplished orchestra behind him, Bell simply shines in this collection, giving great clarity in his performance and able to give us emotion - and plenty of it - without sliding into a mush of sentimentality or syrupy sweetness.
O mio babbino caro (from 'Gianni Schicchi')
With the use of a harp, Bell takes this classic and turns it into a haunting lullaby about the devotion and love a girl has for her father. Used nearly endlessly for commercials, this work gives it new life and energy.
The Girl With Flaxen Hair (from Preludes, Book I; La fille aux cheveux de lin: Prelude for Piano L 117/8)
Nocturne in C sharp minor (Op Post)
One of Chopin's more gorgeous nocturnes is turned into a melody that simply drips with romancism.
The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals)
Many of us remember from childhood the series of melodies that Camille Saint-Saens wrote to describe animals. What more perfect way to capture the beauty of a swan gliding on water than with this elegant, almost crystalline song.
Serenade (from 'Schwanengesang' song cycle for voice and piano, D 957)
This is one of my favorites of Schubert's compositions. Although I've managed to plink it out on the piano, I've never had the courage to sing the words to it. Bell gives it plenty of thwarted longings, and just a touch of Gypsy style.
Casta Diva (from 'Norma')
Bellini was the master of bel canto opera, where the singer was called on for dramatic trills and crescendos. With the violin replacing the sung voice, this paean for a call to peace in a world of war still manages to resonate.
Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major K. 467
Taking one of Mozart's best known piano concerti, Bell takes and gives it new lightness with this transcription. Popularly known as the 'Elvira Madigan,' it's one of those selections that simply drips with romance.
Dance of the Blessed Spirits (from 'Orfeo ed Euridice')
Full of yearning, a bit of sadness, this is another transcription that was made for Bell to perform.
Nocturne from Quartet for Strings No. 2 in D Major: 3rd movement
This is the only track from the cd where the transcription didn?t quite work. While Borodin?s nocturne is one of his best, here the sound gets so light and flimsy that it just falls apart after a while.
Songs My Mother Taught Me, song for voice and piano B104/4 Op 55/4
The use of a harp gives this a lovely simplicity, and harkens back to childhood and simple pleasures without making it too sentimental.
Pur ti Miro (from 'L'incoronazione di Poppea')
Elegie (Elegie 'O doux printemps d'autrefois' for voice and piano)
This is the other cut that I'm not too crazy about.
Traumerei ('Kinderszenen' for piano, Op 15, No. 7 'Dreaming')
With the best saved for last, Schumann?s classic is given to us full of lyricism and enjoyment. I really enjoy this piece of music, and with the transfer to violin it works just as beautifully as it did on piano.
The entire cd is worth listening to, a real rarity these days, and instead of merely putting together a 'Top Ten' sort of collection, Bell worked on making this a collection of romantic pieces, but tossed in a few rarities to make it rise above the usual blend. Whether you?re familiar with classical music or not, I think this cd should find a home in your collection, and makes an excellent starting point to exploring the all the various sorts of composers and styles out there.
For more information about the work of Joshua Bell, check out www.joshuabell.com
Romance of the Violin
Joshua Bell, violin
Michael Stern, conductor
The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Sony Classical SK 87894
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