|
Site review by Polly Nomial January 12, 2006
|
Performance: Sonics (S/MC): / |
This is my first exposure to the music of Gordon Getty and it is a three part work which firstly depicts the trial of Joan of Arc, then a solo meditation from Joan in her cell awaiting death and lastly her execution.
The trial opens with vigourous denunciation of Joan, followed by Joan's protestations alternating with her prosecutor leading the charges with fierce interjections before sentence is passed and the movement settles uneasily as the prosecutor & crowd reflect upon Joan's fate. The second movement is a recitative-like movement for Joan and the orchestra alone. The third movement opens with the building of the pyre with increasing agitation from all concerned except for Joan who is intimated to be transcendentally calm. As the crowd grows increasingly tense, the bells suddenly burst in and completely overwhelm all else - quite a moment!
Throughout the musical language is pleasant and engaging, reminiscent of (good) Hollywood film music, if not entirely memorable. The score is played well by the RNO with plenty of detail audible in the good (but not one of Pentatone's best) recording, despite being recorded in concert - not something you would necessarily realise if it were not stated on the covers. The soloists & chorus are good without being exceptional.
The Prokofiev, is of course much more familiar ground and is given a most marvellous reading. It is a shame though (given that as the 1st suite is on Russian Ballet Suites - Vedernikov) that the 3rd suite wasn't included as the total playing time is on 51'00! Ensemble is immaculate and the overall virtuosity, subtlety, style and passion with which Vedernikov extracts from the RNO (quite up to their best standard) makes this the best R&J excerpts I have heard since Salonen's magnificent disc with the Berliner's. The woodwind have a wonderful pungency in Montagues and Capulets, with the strings majestically playing the famous theme which is delivered with just the right amount of verve - not playing to the gallery in any way. Juliet, then dances & plays as she should - very much a young girl here. Everything sounds exactly right, beautifully balanced and I find it hard to imagine it being played better!
Oh for a complete R&J from the RNO...
|
Copyright © 2006 John Broggio and SA-CD.net
|
|
|
Review by Toni August 28, 2004 (2 of 4 found this review helpful)
|
Performance: Sonics: |
Getty piece here isn't really my cup of tea and it seems to be quite odd companion to the Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. Anyway, it seems to be well performed and the story of Joan of Arc is always interesting. The bells at the end are very weak so the finale is too polite.
There's only second part of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet included, even thou play back time is only 51 minutes. This one is relaxed and a bit too laid back version when comparing to Telarc's Järvi SACD Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet Suites - Paavo Järvi. "Montagues and Capulets" lacks bunch and is slow, Järvi gives it the drive it needs. Some parts sound nice, maybe too kind, and rich, especially "Romeo at Juliet's Before Parting", but overall I like Järvi's version much better, sonically and performwise. Plus you get all three suites in one disc.
Sonics are clean, natural and rich, but maybe a bit thin at times. MC mix is conservative, there's only some ambience in the rear channels.
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
