Arvo Part: Tabula Rasa

Description

Arvo Pärt's epochal, best-selling recording of Tabula rasa on ECM New Series has been reissued with new packaging and track listing. Tabula rasa launched the New Series in 1984, and the interpretations of Pärt's unique compositions by Gidon Kremer, Keith Jarrett, Dennis Russell Davies and Alfred Schnittke and other artists changed the landscape of contemporary music. At the composer's request the work Tabula rasa has now been separated into two tracks (Ludus and Silentium) on this revised CD. This CD re-issue is quite separate from the Tabula rasa special limited edition book/CD version also released in September 2010. Both closely follow the acclaimed release on ECM New Series of the world premiere recording of Pärt's Symphony No. 4 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Esa-Pekka Salonen. Personnel: Gidon Kremer (violin), Keith Jarrett (piano), Staatsorchester Stuttgart & Dennis Russell Davies (conductor), The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Tatjana Grindenko (violin), Alfred Schnittke (prepared piano), Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra & Saulus Sondeckis (conductor) Review: Another ECM New Series Hit: First-rate - One of the most beautiful of a long list of beautiful recordings of Arvo Part's music. As is to be expected from the ECM New Series with contemporary music, the production is exquisite. The sequencing of the selections is particularly fine. I listen to a lot of 20th century music and music from around the world and have been doing so for half a century and this is one of my most favorite recordings of all time. Truly a gift. At this point, the faint, very first bars of the first piece sends chills down my spine in anticipation of the listening pleasure to come. The CD includes some performers who are also famous for other activities that lend unusual depth to their interpretations: Gordon Kremer, Keith Jarrett, Alfred Schnittke as well as access and input from the composer himself. The CD contains: Fratres for violin and piano [Kremer and Jarrett] Cantus in memory of Benjamin Britten Fratres for 12 Cellists and Orchestra Tabula Rasa [Kremer, Grindenko on violin, Alfred Schnittke on prepared piano] with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra [Part's "home" orchestra at the time] Review: A classic recording. - This is beautiful music by a wonderful composer, and it's exceptionally well-played by top-tier musicians. Part's music exudes a mystical spirituality consistent with that of the man himself, and each performance allows that characteristic to come through. Though these recordings are not new, in my opinion none of them has been bested over the years. The sound quality is typical ECM and serves to further enhance the musical performances.