Kancheli: Mourned By The Wind/Light Sorrow

Not the most "orchestral" performance

This is certainly not the most "orchestral" performance of Mourned by the Wind, which is basically a Symphony for solo instrument and orchestra, much as Prokofiev did. The volume of the orchestra is so pianissimo, you'll be turning the volume up to absolute max. to have a clue as to what anyone other that the soloist is doing. Try the Olympia version by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, which is boxed by Kancheli's strong Symphonies 1 and 7 to truly understand this as an orchestral work. You can actually preview the entire CD at RussianDVD.com.
July 28, 2008

Fantastic - if you like contemporary composers

I am a huge fan of Kancheli - I own every CD of his that I have ever come across, and this one has what is (in my opinion) his most moving composition: Light Sorrow. A cantata dedicated to the children who died in World War II, the piece is quite simply chilling. Performed by a boy choir, their voices add an eery, ghostly quality to a very aptly named sorrowful composition. Very moving. I enjoyed the rest of the CD as well - I agree with the previous reviewer that cellist France Springuel is amazing, and if you appreciate her playing, I would recommend looking into "Pärt: Fratres" - another great CD from the Flanders Fiamminghi Orchestra where she is featured. The only reason why I gave this CD 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the recording itself. I had a hard time adjusting volume properly, because if I turned it up loudly enough for the softest parts, my eardrums would get shattered due to the sudden shifts in dynamics, and there are plenty of shifts, both up and down. Not being able to just sit back and listen clearly affects the experience. Very frustrating.

Also a warning: Kancheli is undeniably a 20th century composer, and you should not expect traditional sounding "classical" music. Many of my friends did not enjoy this CD to the degree that I did. February 2, 2006

A remarkable achievment

I have admired G. Kancheli for a long time and also I Fiammingi, The Orhestra of Flanders. When these two are presented on a CD it can't go wrong!
And so it is. Listening to France Springuels cello is to be in heaven. I have never heard such tender, emotional and expressive music! For example, when listening to the Molto largo movement in Mourned by the Wind, you have feeeling to fly through the red evening clouds.
Think of one thing, dont have the same volume on in the other movements if you dont want to get tinnitus!
This change between meditativ music and sudden outburst is very effectful and it is I think Kanchelis way to show us the contrast between the silence in the innerlife and all noice in the outer world today.
Light Sorrow, the other piece on this CD is Music for Orchestra, Boy's Choir and two Boy Sopranos. This is also heavenly music.
This CD I can't be without, it has meant a lot for me! December 26, 2001

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