Pop goes Classics | Fiesta | Gustavo Dudamel, Various, ...

Energetic and joyful | Fiesta | Gustavo Dudamel, Various, ...

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	• Fiesta Gustavo Dudamel, Various, ... Deutsche Grammophon, 2008 average customer review:based on 29 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

One Of The Best Dudamel Recordings

"Fiesta" released in 2008 stands as one of the best recordings to date by the young conductor Gustavo Dudamel and his youth orchestra of Simon Bolivar. I'm not that impressed with Dudamel's other recordings of Mahler, Beethoven, or Tchaikovsky. Hopefully, his tenure with the Los Angeles Philharmonic will surprise audiences with more Latin American repertoire. Whatever happens, "Fiesta" is a particuarly fine recording that, in my opinion, demostrates Dudamel's true musical vision.

Revueltas' "Sensemaya" opens up the program and is probably one of the greatest pieces of Mexican classical music ever written (next to Chavez's "Sinfonia India" of course). "Sensemaya" has a great Stravinsky-like feel to much of the piece. It's very strong rhythmically, but it is also very dynamic. As I have stated in another review, I heard someone refer to it has a Mexican "Bolero," but honestly this isn't a fair description. It's far from it. Another highlight for me were the Carreno and Estevez pieces. The Carreno piece, called "Marcaritena," has a beautiful melody that will linger in your mind for days after hearing it. The Estevez pieced "Mediodia En El Llano" also has a gorgeous melody and it comes to a great climax with a sweeping feel. The Ginastera composition "Estancia," is in suite form and is one of the most aggressive pieces of Latin American music I've ever heard. Ginastera was obviously influenced by Stravinsky, but he adds his own character and Argentinian influence to his music, which gives his music a very refreshing and exotic feel.

The performances from the Simon Bolivar Youth Orch. Of Venezuela are top-notch. The sound quality is also excellent.

I will say that I would have liked to hear some Carlos Chavez on this recording like maybe his "Sinfonia India," "Caballos de vapor," or "Sinfonia Romantica." Also curiously missing from the program were works by Villa-Lobos (a composer I consider one of the greatest of his generation). These are small gripes of course. This is a great recording and hopefully will signal more great things to come. Highly recommended.

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Pop goes Classics

Dudamel is not a great musician, yet. He has more of a rock star
than a real academic artist. For the time being Fiesta is a good CD
and it includes the perfect repertoire for Dudamel...light classics.
Good recommendation for beginners.

Energetic and joyful

Had to get this album after seeing Gustavo Dudamel performing with Young People's Orchestra of Venezuela. The energy and joy that they all exhibited when performing and his intense and almost frenetic conducting really make you wish you were there in person. Enjoyed putting it on 'repeat' and turning up the volume.

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Fiesta de Gustavo D

This is a must have music CD, is superb and ecceptional blend of music and culture.
I highly recommend this produc.

BRAVO

The Youth Symphony more than makes up for Hugo Chavez when it comes to Venezuela's reputation abroad.

Recorded live at the Centro de Acción Social por la Música, Sala Simón Bolívar, January 2008. An album everyone has been waiting for! Gustavo Dudamel and the SBYOV have stunned audiences worldwide with their explosive Latin-American showpieces. Now they deliver this repertoire on record, from a searing live concert in Caracas earlier this year. No other conductor or orchestra in the world could deliver a recording like this. Passion and excitement are guaranteed! "It's all about dance, about rhythm," says Dudamel, and his orchestra responds in kind, swaying and bending to the music, conveying utter joy and excitement in the music of their Southern hemisphere. The recording juxtaposes contrasting showpieces such as the Stravinsky-esque rhythmic drive of Revueltas's Sensemaya, the expansive lusciousness of Danzón no. 2 by Arturo Marquez and the vibrant ballet suite Estancia by Ginastera. The concert concludes with a sizzling performance of Mambo from Bernstein's West Side Story. The dynamic cover art displays the moment when the musicians are revealed dressed in their national colors - now a well known signature of the SBYOV, as is the blistering energy and exuberance with which they perform these pieces.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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