|
|
Post by julesd68 on Jul 16, 2018 23:56:30 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Jul 17, 2018 6:22:22 GMT
Yup, impressive.
But what a strange piece of music it is!
|
|
|
|
Post by Clive on Jul 17, 2018 10:51:26 GMT
Interesting, it seems that Ravel piece is based on gipsy music, I hear lots of elements of "gipsy fiddle" in there. Loving it, thanks Julian for posting.
|
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Jul 17, 2018 11:07:30 GMT
Glad y'all be enjoying it!
Yes that's right it's 'inspired' by some loose notion of gypsy music - it's firmly established in the repertoire as one of the great solo violin exhibition works, whose aim is to revel in technical virtuosity in the most exotic way possible.
Pure entertainment, I love it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Slinger on Jul 17, 2018 12:27:26 GMT
Terrific! Thanks for that, Jules. She really is fabulous. Interesting that the blurb on the iPlayer site mentions "Jewish" influences because the first thing I thought of was "Klezmer" which is music played by Eastern European Ashkenazi Jews. It is still a huge "thing" especially at weddings, and there are loads of Klezmer bands, particularly in America.
This is the most illustrative clip I could find without disappearing too far down the rabbit-hole that is YouTube...
|
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Jul 17, 2018 13:12:12 GMT
I have a theory that Benedetti is still somewhat underrated in this country.
IMO this is due to her record company, Decca, releasing a number of albums designed to have very mainstream appeal. This kind of packaging really doesn't do her talent justice.
|
|
|
|
Post by Clive on Jul 17, 2018 14:01:45 GMT
This is the music it reminded me of:
|
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Jul 17, 2018 14:41:04 GMT
Absolutely, good call Clive!
What a showman too ...
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jul 20, 2018 12:17:48 GMT
I have a theory that Benedetti is still somewhat underrated in this country. People just can't grasp the concept of a good looking woman who is also such a skilled player. When I heard her play the Bruch her interpretation was superb as was her musicianship. |
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Jul 20, 2018 18:16:05 GMT
Hmm. I think Decca were too keen to market her good looks and started recording when she was technically very competent but musically still very immature. I've just been listening to her recording of the Mendelssohn concerto from 2006 - it's emotionally bland imho. She's come a long way since then - her Shosty VC1 from 2016 is a very different (and much much better) proposition - but her early recordings of some of the 'standard violin concerto repertoire' don't really stand up too well, imho. Especially if you can't see her - I guess Decca were relying on you gawping at the album cover photo!  |
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Jul 20, 2018 19:55:03 GMT
Very good point Jerry. For me, she is the real deal now and still only 30.
I hope Decca have finished with their rather underwhelming 'concept' albums for her. I'm all for doing something different, but needs to be done right. Something like Anne Sophie Mutter's excellent Club Album would have worked well for her I think.
|
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Jul 20, 2018 20:21:11 GMT
Exactly.
They've 'marketed' the hell out of her - she's done remarkably well to ride that through and come out on top as a great performer. Shows great strength of character imo. She needs to be in the driving seat - with a clear vision of what she wants to do - not some overpaid clueless company marketing executives!
|
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Jul 20, 2018 20:27:04 GMT
Ain't that the truth!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Slinger on Jul 20, 2018 20:28:20 GMT
I would imagine that she's now at the stage in her career where she can start telling her record company what she wants to record next. Of course, it'll also depend on what sort of contract she has with Decca, I suppose.
|
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Jul 27, 2018 17:57:50 GMT
Very interesting to see Julia Fischer commenting on a similar experience of the plague that has affected Nicola Benedetti's recording career so far -
< it bothered me personally that companies increasingly wanted to sell their albums through a "story," a narrative. For example, if I wanted to record César Franck's Violin Sonata, I would have to suck my finger that I was just in love when I heard it for the first time. >
|
|
|
|
Post by Slinger on Jul 27, 2018 18:26:51 GMT
... I would have to suck my finger... Now there's an album sleeve image I could live with.  |
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Aug 2, 2018 21:24:04 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Aug 4, 2018 19:07:44 GMT
Benedetti is a very talented lady Tzigane certainly has many features  |
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Sept 1, 2018 17:24:55 GMT
|
|
but still worth a look ...
