Wednesday, May 21, 2008

“Grade A” Review of “Bloch and Lees: Violin Concertos”, Conducted by John McLaughlin Williams

John McLaughlin Williams tells AfriClassical of a May 15, 2008 review by Donald Rosenberg, Cleveland Plain Dealer Music Critic: “This is a capsule review in last weekend's Cleveland Plain Dealer. The cd is still so new that it will be a while before the reviews start rolling in.”

Bloch and Lees: Violin Concertos
Elmar Oliveira, John McLaughlin Williams
Artek

Elmar Oliveira is the exceptional soloist on this disc of poignant and powerful violin concertos by Ernest Bloch and Benjamin Lees. Bloch, the first president of the Cleveland Institute of Music, wrote his concerto in 1939 for the Cleveland Orchestra and violinist Joseph Szigeti. It is a rich fabric of moody thematic material, with violinist as forceful protagonist. Lees' 1958 concerto abounds in poetic and impassioned material. John McLaughlin Williams leads the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine in fine, elastic performances.
Grade: A






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