Album

Distrustful of virtuosity for its own sake, and aware of his own technical limitations, Giya Kancheli has deliberately avoided using the term "concerto" for his works for cello and orchestra, Simi and Mourned by the Wind. It may be said, however, that these pieces are concerto-like, insofar as sustaining long pitches and controlling the instrument's tone are equally challenging to the performer, and both pieces display serene, chant-like phrases that require a light touch and a steady bow arm. Kancheli's expressions are decidedly somber and meditative—note the words in the subtitles, "bleak reflections" and "Liturgy in memoriam"—and it may become obvious why he chooses to score many passages in the cello's and orchestra's lowest range and seldom ventures into the brighter upper octaves, except for occasional eerie harmonics and fleeting "night music" sonorities. The cello's central role in Simi is reversed in Mourned by the Wind, where the orchestra is dominant and the cello reduced to a less active part; yet cellist Alexander Ivashkin is the musician listeners will follow, and his subdued but warm playing is always distinctly separated from the orchestral mass, even at its loudest. The Russian State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Valery Polyansky, is fully engaged in these brooding performances, and Chandos' sound quality is evenly balanced.

© Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide

CD 1
Giya Kancheli Composer Simi, for cello & orchestra Work Russian State Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Alexander Ivashkin Cello, Valery Polyansky Conductor
1	Simi, for cello & orchestra	26:42			$3.99
Giya Kancheli Composer Mourned by the Wind, version for cello & orchestra Work 37:57 Russian State Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Alexander Ivashkin Cello, Valery Polyansky Conductor
2	1.Largo	9:29			$1.49
3	2.Allegro moderato	8:11			$1.49
4	3.Larghetto	6:45			$0.99
5	4.Andante maestoso	13:32			$2.49