Sibelius: Violin Concerto, Op. 47

Albumbeschreibung

While classical music has been used effectively to disperse groups of loitering teenagers, basing a greatest-hits album on this method of passive crowd control might seem ill-advised, unless it's a compilation by popular violinist Gil Shaham, which is guaranteed to attract attention. Music to Drive Away Loiterers may have a practical value as a deterrent at malls and public spaces, but serious listeners will try it to sample Shaham's output, which includes selections from the five albums he recorded for his label, Canary Classics, between 2007 and 2013. The 15 tracks represent Shaham in concerto and chamber repertoire, and his charismatic personality is most apparent in such virtuosic showstoppers by Pablo de Sarasate as the Carmen Fantasy, Navarra (with violinist Adele Anthony), and Zapateado, along with some flashy movements from works by Felix Mendelssohn and Jean Sibelius. Even so, such a collection needs balance, so his expressive side is revealed in quieter pieces by Gabriel Fauré, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, John Williams, Ernest Bloch, and others. Because the ensembles and venues vary, the sound quality is a little uneven, though this will matter little to Shaham's fans, who already know what to expect.

© TiVo