James Galway plays Khachaturian

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
One of the problems with the repertoire for solo flute is that there's so little of it once you get out of the Baroque period (where, to be perfectly honest, much of it sounds the same). The dearth of good material is particularly noticeable when it comes to music in the Romantic tradition, which is still most popular with classical audiences. Galway has taken this problem to heart and solved it with this flute transcription of Khachaturian's Violin Concerto. It was a shrewd choice, producing music that's tuneful, excellently scored, and easy on the ear. A good idea brilliantly realized. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Con: Allegro Con Fermezza
Con: Andante Sostenuto
Con: Allegro Vivace
Spartacus: Adagio Of Spartacus And Phrygia
Masquerade: Waltz
Gayaneh: Sabre Dance

Amazon.com essential recording

One of the problems with the repertoire for solo flute is that there's so little of it once you get out of the Baroque period (where, to be perfectly honest, much of it sounds the same). The dearth of good material is particularly noticeable when it comes to music in the Romantic tradition, which is still most popular with classical audiences. Galway has taken this problem to heart and solved it with this flute transcription of Khachaturian's Violin Concerto. It was a shrewd choice, producing music that's tuneful, excellently scored, and easy on the ear. A good idea brilliantly realized. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Superb!.......2005-11-04

The Rampal transcription of the Violin Concerto is brilliantly played here by Galway, which is also one of the finest flute players around. The interpretation is smooth and vivid, with enough strenght on the needed passages, and taking care of the details. Khachaturian played in a very clever and brilliant way, highly recommended!

Galway's tone color too bright for Khachaturian!.......1999-01-19

I was looking for a replacement of my recording of Jean-Pierre Rampal's rendition of the Flute Concerto, and decided to give Galway's version a spin. Khachaturian's Concerto is a smoldering melodic journey through the steppes of central Asia, using the flute's sonorous lower register to an unusual degree. Unfortunately, Galway's very first entrance was 8va!!! Galway's tone color is too bright throughout the performance, making this interpretation completely off the mark.

The Royal Philharmonic does an adequate job, better than the ORTF who accompanied Rampal.

Music Review: