The long-awaited solo album from Deccas star cellist sees Weilerstein revealing and reveling in her techniqueThe 20th Century was significant in affirming the cellos place as a premiere solo instrumentBetween 1900 and 1960 over 160 works were written for solo cello the most ground-breaking of these forms the centerpiece of this recital: Zoltan Kodalys Solo Sonata, composed in 1915Calling for left hand pizzicato as well an alternative tuning of the cellos lower strings, Kodalys Sonata was far ahead of the time in which it was written and explored every facet of the cello, revealing what could be done with this instrumentMany of Kodalys works are based upon Hungarian folk songs & dances, and this theme inspires the rest of the album, with works from the in-vogue Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov, across the world to the Chinese composer Bright ShengShengs work is based on seven tunes from China (Seasons, Guessing Song, The Little Cabbage, The Drunken Fisherman, Diu Diu Dong, Pastoral Ballade, Tibetan Dance). Golijovs Omaramor is a musically playful fantasia inspired by Carols Gardel (the Argentine tango specialist); and Gaspar Cassados Suite, consisting of three dance movements, quotes the Kodaly workThe most substantial item of additional content, the Ligeti sonata, has two movements: the first has a (modal) melody deliberately written with a typical Hungarian profile, heavily influenced by Kodaly; the second is a virtuosic piece in sonata formCommitted to expanding the cello repertoire, Alisa is a fervent champion of new music and this release is her first solo albumThe American cellist has attracted widespread attention worldwide for her combination of natural virtuosic command and technical precision with impassioned musicianship. The intensity of her playing has regularly been lauded, as has the spontaneity and sensitivity of her interpretations. Following her Zankel Hall recital debut, New York Magazine wrote: Whatever she plays sounds custom-composed for her, as if she has a natural affinity with everything
D**R
THE PLAYING IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS --FOUR WONDERFUL, INTERESTING 20TH CENTURY MUSICAL GEMS PERFORMED BY A MASTER
This is the second album I’ve purchased by the amazing young cellist Alisa Weilerstein. (She was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2011.) The first was last year’s album of Dvorak music, including the beautiful Cello Concerto in B minor. To my relatively uneducated judgment, she possesses everything –a resonant and singing tone (listen especially to her rendition of the Kodaly piece on this album), great flexibility, and the her mastery of occasionally unorthodox fingering positions (again, Kodaly) and other arcane possibilities (especially, Bright Sheng’s seven Chinese songs () of her marvelous instrument. If ever there were flaws in her playing, they would show on an album like this, composed wholly of solo pieces, but she never falters. All four compositions are from the twentieth century –two from early in the century (Kodaly, 1915, and Cassado, 1926) and two from the century’s tail end (Golijov, 1991, and Bright Sheng, 1995). The giant of the four is the earliest, Kodaly’s masterful Sonata no. 8 for solo cello, which virtually recreated the solo cello genre after a century and a half of neglect. It is not only a beautiful, deeply moving composition, it is a technically demanding one, requiring restringing of the two lowest tones strings on the instrument, playing a drone while plucking accompaniment (that’s how Weilerstein characterizes it in the album notes) in the second movement, and in the final movement spanning five octaves at times (It’s like “a one-man band! I’m spanning five octaves, I have to play so high it sounds like a violin, and I’m drumming and dancing and harmonizing the music as I go.”) The Argentinian Osvaldo Golijov’s “Omaramor” which follows, is a paean to tango singer Carlos Gardel. Behind the other music that is played, one hears Gardel’s most famous song, “Mi Querido Buenos Aires.” A suite by Gaspar Cassado is next: Cassado was an early pupil of Pablo Casals. The final suite is by Chinese born but now America-based Bright Sheng: in “Seven Tunes Heard in China,” he transmogrifies seven simple songs from his native land. Bent notes, odd harmonic jumps and exotic special effects –especially on “The Drunken Fisherman” with its hops, skips and jumps, but also on Sheng’s ‘train’ piece, “Diu Diu Dong.” This album succeeds in all counts: the playing is heavenly, the compositions played musically rich but also, save for the Kodaly sonata, little known, and for all the variety among these pieces, they fit together without canceling out each other out.
A**Y
Great Music that’s soothing to the mind and the soul!
This is an excellent outstanding well made album it’s always very calming and soothing to the mind and soul every time I listen to it. One day I went out to my local library and found it at random not even knowing who the musician is and just went into it blindly but was very pleasantly surprised how nice the music is and how relaxed it made me feel and decided I needed to own the album in its physical form. Got it in perfect condition brand new. Thanks Amazon! 😄👍👍
J**W
Incredible Interpretations by Weilerstein
Not being a fan of Yo-Yo Ma's "sound," I purchased this CD for the Bright Sheng's "Seven Tunes Heard in China." I was completely blown away by Weilerstien's interpretations of every work on this disk. I have a few recordings of the Kodaly solo cello sonata, and I have shied away from purchasing any new recordings after I spent money on the Natalie Clein version, which I felt was a very poor interpretation. Not only does Weilerstein deliver on the work by Sheng, she knocks the Kodaly out of the park - this is on equal footing with the Perényi recording on Hungaroton, which I believe is the best available. The other bonus on this CD is the recording of Gaspar Cassadó's "Suite for Cello Solo." What an incredible work. It includes references to Kodaly, Ravel, and incredible Spanish music from Catalonia. Being a cellist, I do not often rave about recordings by other cellists. This is simply brilliant.
B**R
Wow, Wow, Wow!
Wow, Wow, Wow! Alisa is an excellent cellist and I love her music!
M**O
After hearing this brilliant artist in recital
After hearing this brilliant artist in recital, I rushed out and bought all her CD's. She is the next Yo-Yo Mah.Her technique and passion is unequaled by any in her generation.
D**M
Four Stars
A phenomenal cellist!
G**N
Five Stars
I enjoyed listening. She is great!
A**.
A gifted performer. Thanks for the quick delivery.
A gifted performer. Thanks for the quick delivery.
D**L
Excellent recording.
Sublime playing by Alisa Weilerstein. All the pieces are profoundly performed. Excellent recording .
M**D
Four Stars
good music
B**A
Four Stars
Alisa's interpretations are so emotional, that you feel purified after listening to this music. ;-)
K**A
mega tolles Album-erfrischend neue "Klassik"
nicht guenstig im Kauf...aber jeden Cent wert!Ein Hoergenuss fuer Seele und Ohren.Versand verlief problemlos-kann ich entspannt weiter empfehlen..Neue Version von Klassik...
