Company, for string quartet/string orchestra: Movement 1
Company, for string quartet/string orchestra: Movement 2
Company, for string quartet/string orchestra: Movement 3
Company, for string quartet/string orchestra: Movement 4
Violin Concerto: Movement 1
Violin Concerto: Movement 2
Violin Concerto: Movement 3
Akhnaten, opera: Prelude
Akhnaten, opera: Dance (Act II, Scene III)
Philip Glass's signature doom-and-gloom minor sonorities and shifting rhythms scintillate and eddy under the touch of Adele Anthony and the Ulster Symphony. The solo line in the Violin Concerto is at odds with a unified or... more »chestra throughout, and Anthony's romantic tone draws the listener in for an exploration of the texture, grain, and fiber of Glass's structural minimalism. The Ulster Symphony's rendering of Company and Akhnaten, under the leadership of Takuo Yuasa, forms brilliant darts of tonal color. As a musical adaptation of Samuel Beckett's prose of the same name, Company's dark ruminations are appropriate for the text's depiction of a solitary figure lying on his back in the dark. The orchestra seems aware of their repetitious mechanical task in performing these works, yet this human awareness is what makes Glass's orchestral work so compelling. --Alexis Odell« less
Philip Glass's signature doom-and-gloom minor sonorities and shifting rhythms scintillate and eddy under the touch of Adele Anthony and the Ulster Symphony. The solo line in the Violin Concerto is at odds with a unified orchestra throughout, and Anthony's romantic tone draws the listener in for an exploration of the texture, grain, and fiber of Glass's structural minimalism. The Ulster Symphony's rendering of Company and Akhnaten, under the leadership of Takuo Yuasa, forms brilliant darts of tonal color. As a musical adaptation of Samuel Beckett's prose of the same name, Company's dark ruminations are appropriate for the text's depiction of a solitary figure lying on his back in the dark. The orchestra seems aware of their repetitious mechanical task in performing these works, yet this human awareness is what makes Glass's orchestral work so compelling. --Alexis Odell
"This is the perfect CD for people who are curious about Glass but don't want to spend $20 on a CD they may wind up hating. For $6.99 this is a killer deal. Bear in mind that many of the people who have given this CD a poor review are already familiar with Glass' work. We'll assume that the reader is not. These pieces are interesting,beautifully played,and do provide an excellent introduction to Glass' work.If you've always wondered whether or not Glass is your thing, or even if you've never heard of the guy, how can you go wrong for $7? I say slap down your money and give him a chance. I've played this as often as I've played any of his symphonies and soundtracks.Go for it!"
Full orchestral treatment of major works
Eric | Somerville, MA United States | 08/12/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of those items that I feel hasn't gotten a really on-target review. I'm not sure a CD by one composer is the place to discuss the merits of his whole genre of music. Admittedly I write from a perspective of a fan of minimalism and of Philip Glass. And for someone knowledgable of the field and of Glass's output, this CD has strong appeal.
First, the Naxos price is a bargain. They're really serving a role in making challenging, sometimes rarely heard music available to a classical audience that doesn't have to be also an elite or wealthy one. Each of their composer-centered CDs seems carefully considered in order to provide both strong performances and well-chosen material as an introduction to the entire oeuvre of that master.
In particular, this CD shows a few sides of Glass, in the lush and comfortable setting of full orchestral performances (quite different from his chamber, solo piano, self-played or even soundtrack work). The two pieces from his opera Akhnaten that close out the disc offer wonderfully evocative melodies. Once meant to be sung or performed with bright visuals and actors, these arrangements focus only on the strength of his melodies and harmonies, with a full pallette of color and emotions in what must be read as his homage to an ancient and tragically odd, lost kingdom. There's a stately spirituality in this music that well evokes pyramids, desert sand and the rays of the sun god.
"Company" consists of busy short pieces typical of Glass's 80s work, and the Violin Concerto is his first major concert-hall work, not commissioned in support of any other project or medium. It provides a memorable showcase for violinist Adele Anthony.
However, I do have some quibbles, as one often does with Naxos cds. The recording levels are low, and there's not a lot of distinction between instruments in the mix. I'm all for a more aggressive, rock-style approach to both the playing and recording of classical music, and the Naxos label is frequently too timid on this front.
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Surprisingly great!
vagombos | West Covina, CA USA | 09/24/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I picked up this CD just out of curiousity (already having a number of other Glass works, and knowing nothing about the Violin Concerto). This was among the better (serendipitous) selections I have ever made -- the Violin Concerto has become one of my favorites by Glass! While elements of this piece are very reminiscent of other works by the composer, it has a distinct style -- oftentimes, even showing elements of classical (traditional) styles in the movement between violin and orchestra. Especially for the price, and for this Violin Concerto, I recommend this CD!"
Bravo, Naxos!
Daniel R. Greenfield | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | 01/23/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Each time I listen to this album, I enjoy it more and more. This is an excellent introduction to the music of Philip Glass, and is very affordable for nearly anyone who may be interested in hearing his music. Probably the best track on this CD is the second movement of the violin concerto; it is both sad and lyrical, filled with longing and regret. Anthony does an admirable job of interpreting this work. The sound quality is very sharp and clear. I believe that anyone with an interest in contemporary serious music will love this album. The price is unbeatable. Naxos has certainly won my heart for their continuing series of American Classics."
A good place to begin if you've never heard any Glass
Peter Heddon | 12/28/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My first encounter with the Glass Violin Concerto was in the form of a dance piece devised by the fringe choreographer Mavin Khoo.The Glass worked brilliantly within this context but i doubted it would stand on it's own without the marriage with movement.
I was proven wrong as i've found the whole piece arresting from start to finish.Glass's trademark minor key arpeggiations sound marvellously idiomatic on the soloist and the slow movement is deeply affecting without being sickly sweet in any way.
Quite unexpectedly (I generally go for the more hard line modernist stuff)i've been won over so this Naxos CD is definitely a good place to start if you've never heard a piece of this guys music.
'Company' and the 'Dance' from Akhnaten are rather plodding by comparison with the Violin concerto but the Akhnaten prelude has a mysterious aura which immediately alerts ones attention."