> Sarasate: Bolero, Introduction et
Fandango, etc. Tianwa Yang (violin), Markus Hadulla (piano),
Naxos CD.
This is volume three of Pablos Sarasate's music for violin
and piano from Naxos, featuring virtuoso Chinese violinist
Yang.
The composer was a superb violinist and Spain's answer to
Paganini, so he often makes technical demands but his music
is lyrical. The opening Bolero Op.30 is enough to
convince that Yang will thrill and dazzle the ears as needed,
while finding sensitive sympathies with the lyricism.
Other standouts are Serenade Andelouse, Reverie,
Fantaisie-Caprice and Caprice sur Mireille de
Gounod.
Bird-call harmonics in Los Pajaros de Chile are a
delightful feature. Intonation is always impeccable, in
double-stopping passages and those stunning displays of
bowing in fiendishly difficult places. Yang plays all with
ease - beautifully recorded.
Highlight: Another stunning virtuoso!
>David Hobson (tenor) and Teddy Tahu
Rhodes (bass-baritone), Sinfonia Australia. ABC deluxe edition
2 CDs.
These two discs feature the singers' best-selling earlier
record You'll Never Walk Alone, of popular songs, plus
a new Live In Concert bonus album (with pianist
Sharolyn Kimmerley.) The live album includes an Australian
folk-song medley of four items in which the shears click and
Matilda waltzes, and a "Celtic Medley" of five tunes.
Skye Boat Song, Loch Lomond, and The Wee Cooper o'
Fyfe instill a strong Scottish emphasis. It also has
several fine arias or art songs (listed on inner back cover
with composers); unfortunately the accompanying booklet has
no notes for the bonus disc, also audience applause can
intrude. CD1 begins with Rodgers and Hammerstein's You'll
Never Walk Alone; CD2 ends with it.
Highlight: Excellent singers, very popular fare.
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