South American Getaway

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Who knew that the solid, staid old Berlin Philharmonic had such a groovy group of swingers in its cello section? One of them plays the maracas during the rests in his part, others slap their instruments with abandon, and some of them even shout at appropriate moments: if this makes them sound like trainspotters letting their hair down, it's not meant to. This recording of South American and South American-inspired music is full of joy from beginning to end, and played with the kind of accuracy other ensembles only dream of. The mood ranges from sultry and sweaty (Kaiser-Lindemann's Brazilian Variations) through coolly intellectual (the Fugue from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1) to pure sunshine (Burt Bacharach's "South American Getaway"). The arrangements are models of their kind, and the cellists respond to their challenges with bravura and passion--at times creating sounds remarkably like a bandonéon, at others producing perfect harmonics in octaves or just singing out with pure joy. Irresistibly seductive. --Warwick Thompson

Tracks:

I Introducao (Embolada)
II Preludio (Modinha)
III Fuga (Conversa)
Fuga Y Misterio
'Die 12' In Bossa-Nova (Variacoes Brasileiras)
La Flor De La Canela
I Aria (Cantilena)
II Danca (Martelo)
Mas Que Nada
Adios Nonino
Chiquilin De Bachin
A Fuego Lento
South American Getaway

Amazon.com

Who knew that the solid, staid old Berlin Philharmonic had such a groovy group of swingers in its cello section? One of them plays the maracas during the rests in his part, others slap their instruments with abandon, and some of them even shout at appropriate moments: if this makes them sound like trainspotters letting their hair down, it's not meant to. This recording of South American and South American-inspired music is full of joy from beginning to end, and played with the kind of accuracy other ensembles only dream of. The mood ranges from sultry and sweaty (Kaiser-Lindemann's Brazilian Variations) through coolly intellectual (the Fugue from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1) to pure sunshine (Burt Bacharach's "South American Getaway"). The arrangements are models of their kind, and the cellists respond to their challenges with bravura and passion--at times creating sounds remarkably like a bandonéon, at others producing perfect harmonics in octaves or just singing out with pure joy. Irresistibly seductive. --Warwick Thompson

Customer Reviews:

Stellar.......2003-11-18

Wow - It's the cello-section of the Berlin Philharmonic, ok, so I expected a lot, but still this CD blew my ears off. What a performance! What a rare symbiosis of refined music making and unhalted moods and passion. Often, with lesser ensembles, passion is misunderstood as edgyness, even loudness... Not with these guys, and still, you hear every bit of emotion your supposed to hear. All pieces all my favorites, ALL of them, no exception. Juliane Banse is captivating, and together this gang of music makers is unstoppable. Legend has it that even the old von Karajan approved their performances (the Maestro in the Salzburg audience!). I am sure that these days also Sir Simon will concur...

Before coming Caracas.......2001-05-21

I am in Caracas with the MD of this disc. I have been a fun of this team, and at this time, this disc gives me a right guidance to South America. The style of the play fits quite well for the Latin music. One remark is that if you buy this CD in Japan, you can hear another marvellous Soplano.

Lovely music lovingly played.......2000-06-27

Some music, as Bacon wrote about books, is to be merely tasted and others digested. Many people ask me for music that can be played at parties (loud ones or sedate, indoors or out?), but seldom for music that stimulates the little gray cells. A recent EMI release falls sort of between the two poles. 7243 5 5656981 2) features the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic and soprano Juliane Banse performing some unfamiliar (to most of us) works by Villa-Lobos, Kaiser-Lindemann, Piazolla, Granda, Ben, Salgan, and Bacharach (!).

For me, the highlight is the beautifully sung Aria and Danca from the "Bachianas Brasleiras No. 5." Ms. Bancer's other vocal contribution is "The Kid in Blue Jeans" which is very reminiscent of the "girl on the curb" songs with which Piaf used to break your heart.

All in all, this is a lovely offering and the texts of the songs are included in the usual several languages.

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