JOROSE43's Full Review: Devil's Dance / Gil Shaham, Jonathan Feldman
This incredible album caught my eye as I was browsing through the classical music section at Tower records. I bought the album on pure intrigue.
When I got home and put it in my stereo I was immediately blown away by the ferocious, virtuosic playing on the first track, "the Devil's Dance" by John Williams. As I listened further, I found myself lost in the incredible arrangements of familiar movie tunes. For example, the "Transylvanian Lullaby" from the Mel Brooks movie "Young Frankenstein" mad me want to laugh and cry at the same time while listening.
As a final preview of the music on the album, I would like to speak of the horrific intensity with which Saint-Saens' "Danse Macabre" is played. The fast tempo taken in the piece is faster than usual but is so terrifying in Shaham's interpretation that it is definitely worth listening too.
The one downfall to this album is that certain pieces originally for orchestra and violin, tend to lose their character when played with violin and piano. This downfall is saved by the interprative approach taken by the two performers.
Honestly, this is one of the first of Shaham's albums that has actually impressed me. The vigor with which he plays on this album far outweighs anything else I have heard by him. Basically, do not expect any of his other albums to be as incredible as this.
Another album that is worth a listen to, is Annie Sophie-Mutter's "Carmen-Fantasie." Mutter plays with more intensity on this album than Shaham probably ever will. "Carmen-Fantasie" provides one of the greatest recordings ever of Pablo de Sarasate's "Zigeneurweisen."
Well if you happen upon either one of these albums, definitely pick them up, especially if you love virtuoso violin music.
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