THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605230060
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Review
SOURCE: Paul Sayegh
LENGTH: 26 lines
Barber: Violin Concerto; Cello Concerto; Capricorn Concerto (RCA)
This new Leonard Slatkin-St. Louis Symphony CD is a worthy follow up to the 1992 Grammy-winning recording of the Piano Concerto, with John Browning as soloist.
The Violin Concerto has entered the orchestral mainstream during the past decade, and it's easy to see why. The first two movements are memorable for their bittersweet lyricism, while the finale is breathlessly virtuosic. Kyoko Takezawa performs the piece beautifully, and avoids the temptation to turn it into neo-Tchaikovsky.
Steven Isserlis is also impressive in the Cello Concerto, a tougher, darker piece that deserves to be heard more often. The Baroque-via-Stravinsly Capricorn Concerto is a pleasant contrast, finding Barber in a lighter mood.
Slatkin and his orchestra provide excellent support. They can be heard on two other new RCA discs, devoted to American composers John Corigliano and Aaron Copland. by CNB