Album

As one of the most brilliantly inventive and versatile of contemporary composers, particularly in his orchestration and effects, John Corigliano usually conveys his ideas with economy, directness and stunning clarity, and with a minimum of confusion. Unfortunately, his Symphony No. 2 for string orchestra (2000) seems a bit muddled, both in terms of what works best with this kind of ensemble, and of what constitutes a symphony. Since this piece is a reworking of Corigliano's String Quartet (1996), it seems that ideas and techniques that worked in the chamber medium did not translate well into the thicker, richer sonorities of the string orchestra. Similarly, the formal experimentation that is possible in chamber music does not necessarily work in larger symphonic statements; and the sense of trajectory needed in a symphony is lacking in this intimately scaled, sotto voce work. Much more successful and characteristic of the composer is the colorful orchestral suite drawn from his film score for The Red Violin (1997), which features gorgeous violin solos by Eleonora Turovsky, and the glorious orchestral palette of I Musici de Montréal, conducted by Yuli Turovsky. If Corigliano's Symphony No. 2 is a disappointment, then this enjoyable "quasi-concerto" offers some compensation. The sound is fine, but not extraordinary. Note also that this SACD cannot be read by all CD players.

© Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide

CD 1
John Corigliano Composer Symphony No.2 Work 37:27 I Musici de Montreal Chamber Ensemble, Jacques Proulx Viola, Christian Prevost Violin, Yuli Turovsky Conductor, Timothy Bruce Halliday Cello, Alain Aubut Cello, Eleonora Turovsky Violin
1	1.Prelude	4:31			$0.99
2	2.Scherzo	7:28			$1.49
3	3.Nocturne	9:00			$1.49
4	4.Fugue	7:54			$1.49
5	5.Postlude	8:34			$1.49
John Corigliano Composer The Red Violin, suite for violin and orchestra Work 24:55 I Musici de Montreal Chamber Ensemble, Caroline Lizotte Harp, Yuli Turovsky Conductor, Eleonora Turovsky Violin
6	1.Main Title	2:28			$0.99
7	2.Anna's Theme	1:24			$0.99
8	3.Death of Anna	2:18			$0.99
9	4.Coitus Musicales	1:12			$0.99
10	5.Journey to China	1:31			$0.99
11	6.Shanghai	2:39			$0.99
12	7.Pope's Betrayal	2:28			$0.99
13	8.Victoria's Departure	3:19			$0.99
14	9.The Auction	1:48			$0.99
15	10.Gypsy Cadenza	1:38			$0.99
16	11.Anna's Theme	4:10			$0.99