Search - Giya Kancheli :: Diplipito / Vales Boston

Diplipito: one of his most ravishing creations

Amadeus 888 | London | 07/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"'My work of silence, my mute creation...' is the phrase by poet Joseph Brodsky that accompanies the notes of Diplipito, the latest Kancheli ECM release. 'Meaningless words from a Georgian epic' is Diplipito named for a kind of Georgian drum and scored for cello, counter-tenor and orchestra.



For me, this piece is like a wordless prayer, where words are meaningless or just superfluous. Diplipito is the song of the Soul 'exhausted in prayer', stretching itself upwards, ever upwards, reaching for something, exhausting itself, never making it, falling and rising once again... in a kind of cyclic never-ending effort. Phrases and melodic themes are isolated and beautiful, their beauty highlighted by their context becoming all the more intense. Themes and phrases repeat themselves in the manner that the composer knows so well, always open though never exhausted and, ultimately satisfying in some kind of mysterious and perfectly balanced way.

Kancheli's usual abrupt and intense dynamic contrasts are present in this piece as well, but not to the extent that one finds in his previous recordings.



It's wonderdul to hear Derek Lee Ragin's angelic indeed voice in another Kancheli work (after the superb 'And Farewell goes out sighing...'), and even though to describe someone's voice as ' angelic' is usually a cliche, in this instance it is perfectly appropriate. Also wonderful to find Thomas Demenga with his cello as well as a rather unusual for a Kancheli score that includes percussion, piano and guitar in a most innovative and unexpected way. The result is perfect and always leaves me with a feeling of serenity, deep satisfaction and longing for more. Perhaps, it would be a little exaggerated to say that Diplito is a contact with the numinous, but that's exactly how it feels for me and I cannot stop listening to it.



The second piece on this CD is Boston Valse for piano and strings with Dennis Russell Davies on the piano and also conducting the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester. Marvellous.



Highly recommended.



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