Gustavo Dudamel : CD : Dudamel Discoveries

Tracks

	Symphony No. 5 in C minor Op. 67 (Ludwig van Beethoven):
	1. 1. Allegro con brio 07:25
	Symphony No. 7 in A Op. 92 (Ludwig van Beethoven):
	2. 2. Allegretto 08:44
	Danzon No.2 (Arturo Márquez):
	3. Danzon No.2 09:44
	Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor (Gustav Mahler):
	4. 4. Adagietto (Sehr langsam) 10:46
	Symphony No. 5 in E minor op. 64 (Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky):
	5. 2. Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza - Moderato con anima 14:29
	Conga del Fuego (Arturo Marquez):
	6. Conga del Fuego 04:52
	The Nutcracker Op. 71a - Suite (Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky):
	7. 2c. Danse russe Trépak (Tempo di Trépak, molto vivace) 01:08
	Festive Overture Op. 96 (Dmitri Shostakovich):
	8. Festive Overture, Op.96 05:55

reviews

Danielle

Jeff Dunn - San Francisco CLASSICAL VOICE

If you are looking for a gift for someone beginning their odyssey into classical music, you could do worse than send them the latest DGG sampler release of repertoire standards spiced with two dances by the Mexican composer Arturo Márquez. Why? The conductor is Gustavo Dudamel, product of Venezuela’s world-famous El Sistema who has just taken over the helm of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The orchestra is the Simón Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, and except for two or three instances of strange horn sounds, you’d be unlikely to detect that the players are anything less than first-class. Works include famous movements from symphonies — the first of Beethoven’s Fifth, the “Apotheosis-of-the-Dance” second of his Seventh; and the slow movements of Tchaikovsky’s and Mahler’s Fifth. In addition are the Trépak from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, and the Festive Overture of Dmitri Shostakovich. Only three of the cuts (Trépak, Festive Overture, and the second Márquez dance) have not been issued previously. Dudamel’s interpretations tend to the overly brisk in fast passages, and surprisingly restrained in the slow sections. If you’re looking for depths plumbed, you’ll not find them here, but Dudamel’s relatively light touch may appeal to many. On the other hand, you’ll get three bonuses: the two true “Discoveries,” Márquez’ Danzón No. 2 and Conga del Fuego, played irresistibly by the Dudamel team; and the satisfaction of contributing to music education, since proceeds from the sale of the CD will go to the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles and the Sistemas of Venezula and its new offshoot in Scotland. If you're really into the Dudamel snippets you can get a free download of him doing the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique at www.amplified.com. - Jeff Dunn is a freelance critic with a B.A. in music and a Ph.D. in geologic education. A composer of piano and vocal music, he is a member of the National Association of Composers, USA, and serves on the board of New Music Bay Area. A photomontage enthusiast, he illustrates his own reviews.10/8/2009 3:04 PM (GMT-08:00)

report this content Report