April 16, 2009

RECORDINGS: Classical and traditional music are featured on CDs

By FRANK BEHRENS Contributing Writer

Those who follow the careers of great keyboard players will be most interested in a Sony Classical CD of Leon Fleisher performing Mozart’s Piano Concerti 12 and 23 along with No. 7 in the composer’s own arrangement for two pianos. This disc has special interest because it is Fleisher’s first two-hand recording in over 40 years! (He suffered from focal dystonia in his right hand.) It remains for the listener to judge his recovery on the basis of this recording, and I would appreciate hearing the opinions of some of my readers. His wife joins him in the No. 7 performance and they are accompanied by the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, conducted by Leon himself. Sony Classical has issued a lovely CD featuring guitarist Sharon Isbin, “Journey to the New World.” The title comes from the concept of her family’s journey from Ireland to the early American colonies and then to the West Coast in the early 1900s. As she explains in the program notes, “(T)he individual folk tunes are in a chronological form that mirrors both the evolution of American folk music and the course of my family’s migration.” Among the 29 tracks on this disc, two of them have Joan Baez supplying the vocal, while violinist Mark O’Connor accompanies Isbin in his “Strings & Threads Suite.” All in all, this is a most impressive concert of folk music arrangements. For youngsters only. After the immense popularity of the two “Ghostbuster” films, an animated series was made for television (unseen by me) titled “The Real Ghostbusters.” A press release tells me that the sale of the complete series on Time-Life DVDs (147 episodes, mind you) met with good critical acclaim. So Time-Life is following up with “a more cost effective option.” It is called “The Real Ghostbusters, Volume 1” and holds the first 30 episodes on 5 DVDs—plus a “making of” bonus and a ROM element with scripts and story boards. Strictly, again, for the younger viewers, most of whom should love this set. Note: This is my 200th report for Keene Sentinel. I hope I have been serving my readers well.

March 16, 2009

Guitarist Sharon Isbin may be most recognizable to film music fans for her recent performance on Howard Shore’s score to The Departed. This Grammy Award-winner’s latest CD is lovely collection of classical and folk pieces that shows off her virtuoso talents and delicate touch. The album begins with four pieces originally written for lute, which Isbin

transcribes for guitar. Joan Baez provides haunting vocals for a couple of tunes, including the traditional “Wayfaring Stranger,” but it’s Baez’s musical legacy that is the inspiration for John Duarte’s “Joan Baez Suite, Op. 144,” a seven-part guitar solo, written especially for Isbin and which she premiered on stage in 2003 (it makes its album recording debut here). The other major chunk of the CD is devoted to Mark O’Connor’s adaptation of his own Strings & Thread Suite from solo violin to a duo for violin and guitar. This is a thematically calming but simultaneously exciting release from Isbin, who has over 25 CDs under her belt. —Cary Wong

Journey to the New World *** VARIOUS

Sony Classical 88697-45456-2

29 tracks - 61:18

CLASSICAL GUITAR MAGAZINE (UK) – Cover Feature, MAY 2009

JOURNEY TO THE NEW WORLD - Sony Classical 88697-45456-2

ANON: Drewrie’s Accordes. DOWLAND: Lord Willoughby’s Welcome Home. ANON: Le Rossignol.

JOHNSON: Greensleeves. ENGLISH FOLK SONGS: The Drunken Sailor, Wild Mountain Thyme.

ANDREW YORK: Andecy. TRAD: Wayfaring Stranger. DUARTE: Joan Baez Suite, Op. 144. NILES: Go

way from my window. O’CONNOR: Strings and Threads Suite.

Sharon Isbin, Joan Baez, Mark O’Connor

This album was released on 24 March 2009 with a live interview on the New York radio

programme WQXR (available on Sharon Isbin’s website), and a Performance Today national

broadcast throughout the USA from 245 radio stations. It is extremely encouraging to find that

such high profile publicity is available for the classical guitar in the appropriate context.

Moreover, Sharon Isbin’s performances for film soundtracks (such as Scorsese’s The Departed),

her various Grammy and other Recording Academy awards, as well as playing at Ground Zero

for the Names Memorial and televised broadcast on 11 September 2002, are all facets of a career

which has established her as the guitarist laureate of the USA.

This new recording is intended as a progressive musical journey, moving from the roots of

English music in the Elizabethan age, to Ireland, and thence to the USA, where the traditions of

European folk songs and dances evolved into new and distinctive cultural identities. To help with

this journey Isbin is joined by Joan Baez and Mark O’Connor in a presentation full of delightful

surprises which nevertheless maintains a sense of coherence amidst considerable diversity.

At the heart of the content is a remarkable Joan Baez Suite, Op. 144 by John Duarte,

featuring some of Baez’s favourite songs such as House of the Rising Sun and Where have all the

flowers gone? arranged for solo guitar. The settings are poignant yet understated with deft

harmonic touches and imaginative twists to familiar melodies.

The lyrical singing of Joan Baez is timeless, of course, and her presence endows the

occasion with truly historic perspectives. It is a pity that Baez only appears on two of these tracks

for her musical togetherness with Isbin is so excellent that it needs further opportunity to reveal

all the possibilities of range and expressiveness implicit here. An entire programme of these two

artists should surely be the next step.

Mark O’Connor’s superb Strings and Threads Suite for violin and guitar, is spectacular,

offering brilliant virtuosity in a framework of authentic folk intensity. O’Connor’s impeccable

violin playing is frequently reminiscent of the sonorous precision of Stéphane Grappelli and as a

composition which breathes utter spontaneity, the suite provides an abundance of emotional

contrasts and dazzling colours.

This album is thus contemporary and relevant yet traces profound historical patterns. As

such its strength is that of a sense of identity and purpose. It also demonstrates that guitar music

does not have to be overtly complex or esoteric to achieve an impact. Sharon Isbin’s concept here

is that of a recital, progressing naturally from one perspective to another but ultimately creating a

satisfying synthesis of all the component parts. One can imagine that the appeal of this journey

will be considerable, not only attracting guitarists but also the attention of the general public. As

such this new issue provides a powerful consolidation of Isbin’s stature on the international scene

and a reminder that artistry of the highest order manifests itself in many subtle and unexpected

ways.

Graham Wade

DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200904100300/LIVING

/904100317

April 10, 2009, Rochester, New York

SHARON ISBIN: JOURNEY TO THE NEW WORLD. With this new recording, Isbin

proves she is one of the few classical musicians who can find the right grooves and native

feel of Americana and English folk music. And sure, the guitar has long been a purveyor

for American music. Still, at first, I was unsure how this poised classical artist would do.

Instead of coming across as an unfortunate mesh of styles, Isbin's strumming is so

complementary to the fiddling of Mark O'Connor and the folk voice of Joan Baez that it's

hard to remember that these styles are a departure from her usual fare. My favorite work

on the CD is the Strings and Threads Suite by O'Connor. The works romp, stomp and jig;

Isbin puts a little more oomph in her plucking for more grit and bounce. There's a vitality

and excitement to this kind of American roots music that Isbin manages to capture with

unwavering precision.

— Anna Reguero

Hot Pick CD/New Releases

APRIL 2009 HOT PICK/NEW RELEASES An Eloquent Bridging of Traditional Music from the Old World to the New... Journey to the New World: Mark O'CONNOR: Strings & Threads Suite arr. for violin & guitar; John DUARTE: Joan Baez Suite; Andrew YORK: Andecy; Four Renaissance Lute Works (trns ISBIN); Drunken Sailor, Wild Mountain Thyme (arr. Edward FLOWER); *Wayfaring Stranger (Carlos Barbosa-Lima arr); NILES: *Go 'Way From My Window (trns Isbin

by Sharon Isbin, guitar; *Joan Baez, voice; Mark O’Connor, violin

Grammy Award-winning guitarist Sharon Isbin says her debut release

on Sony is "A voyage in song from the British Isles to the New World."

Joining her are legendary folk singer Joan Baez who sings deeply moving versions of Wayfaring

Stranger and Go 'Way from My Window, and violin and composer, Mark O'Connor, who arranged a

special violin & guitar version of his 'down-home' yet dazzling Strings & Threads Suite for himself

and Isbin. Baez is also honored with the premier recording of Duarte's Joan Baez Suite, featuring

songs that are inextricably linked to the singer, such as House of the Rising Sun, Lily of the West,

and Where have all the Flowers Gone? Isbin's playing could not be bettered; her expressive readings

are full of intense lyricism and intimate poetry, but never get in the way of the simple honesty and

purity of these traditional songs. The CD also showcases the amazingly sophisticated arrangements

by Isbin and others, which are worth the price alone.

Sony: 745456

April 2009 http://www.soundstage.com/music/reviews/rev1152.htm

Sharon Isbin, Joan Baez, Mark O’Connor - Journey to the New World

Sony Classical 88697 Format: CD Released: 2009

by Rad Bennett radb@soundstage.com

Musical Performance Recording Quality Overall Enjoyment

This CD features the combined talents of one of the greatest contemporary guitarists, the grand dame of folksingers, celebrating her 50th year of performance, and the wizardry of crossover music’s greatest fiddle player-composer. These are the only three performers, yet the album is so top heavy with talent that you might think it would collapse under that weight. Instead, the combined super artistry is heard in one of the most beguiling, supple and charming musical journeys of the year.

The disc begins with four Renaissance lute duets in which Sharon Isbin plays both parts (on the guitar), then moves to two familiar English folksongs -- "The Drunken Sailor" and "The Mountain Thyme." After a transition piece,"Andecy" by Andrew York, Joan Baez joins Isbin for a haunting version of "Wayfaring Stranger." The great folksinger is then given tribute in a suite for guitar called simply enough "The Joan Baez Suite." It was written by John Duarte for Isbin and is a showcase of songs made popular by the young Baez. There are some fascinating juxtapositions, such as the joining of a Schubert song about dead flowers with Pete Seeger’s "Where Have All The Flowers Gone," and the fascinating contrapuntal combination of "Dido’s Lament" by Purcell with the folk tune "The Unquiet Grave." After the suite, Baez comes back for "Go ‘Way From My Window," and then the album closes with Mark O’Connor’s exuberant "Strings and Threads Suite," arranged for violin and guitar.

The recorded sound is a perfect fit to the performances -- close up, intimate, and detailed. This kind of CD could make crossover music a respected genre.

Domande per Sharon Isbin -- Venerdi di Reppublica Magazine, May 1, 2009, Italy

1) Lei è arrivata ai vertici della musica internazionale in un campo, quello della chitarra,

dominato dagli uomini. Qual è il segreto?

You reached the top of the classical guitar world, which is mainly a male-dominated field

How did you manage to do this?

I focussed on becoming the best musician and guitarist I could be. This meant seeking

excellent teachers like Oscar Ghiglia, Alirio Diaz, Segovia, and ten years study of with

Rosalyn Tureck for the music of Bach. I’ve also worked with some of the finest composers

of our time, creating popular new concerti which orchestras want to perform. Other projects

have taken me outside the classical realm resulting in unusual, never-before-heard

collaborations in a variety of genres. Along the way, I was asked to create a guitar

department for The Juilliard School, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. My

students come from 16 different countries – including Italy of course -- and their influence

is felt worldwide.

2) Per il suo ultimo Cd si è avvalsa della collaborazione di Joan Baez. Come è nato il

sodalizio?

In your latest CD you perform with Joan Baez. How did this collaboration happen?

After the success of composer John Duarte’s Appalachian Dreams suite, I asked him to

write another work for me, this time honoring Joan Baez whose artistry I’ve long admired.

She loved the idea and gave it her full support.

The Joan Baez Suite for solo guitar includes many songs she performed in her early career,

including “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “House of the Rising Sun,” “Barbara

Allen,” “Lily of the West,” and others. After hearing my performance of the music, she

offered to sing on this Sony recording titled Journey to the New World. I selected Wayfaring

Stranger and Go ‘Way from my Window to perform with her. She was a joy to work with,

her voice is still magnificent, and artistically we share a very special chemistry together.

This album is in her homage, and Joan is touring the world this season in celebration of the

50th anniversary of her career. Would you believe, her aunt used to folk dance with my

parents in our home in Minneapolis every month as a member of their university club. So I

met Joan Baez’s aunt years before, at age five!

The concept of this CD begins with 16th century Renaissance lute duets which I perform

with myself, and explores the evolution of folk music through 17th and 18th century

Scotland and Ireland, crossing the ocean to America and where the transformation of these

roots became a new and distinct vernacular.

You can hear samples of the music, watch a video of my performance with the virtuoso folk

violinist/composer on the album Mark O’Connor, and see photos of me with Joan Baez on

my website: http://www.sharonisbin.com

3) Si dice che lei tragga continua ispirazione dai suoi frequenti viaggi. E' vero?

It seems that you get inspiration from your continuous travelling. Is that true?

Performing has been a great way for me to discover the world. I’ve learned so much about

different cultures and people, and all of these travels and their rich tapestries of life have

influenced my music. Whether it’s meeting a famous koto player in Japan or pipa player

from China, discovering the romantic gardens of the Alhambra, hiking in the Brazilian

Amazon, or being inspired by the ancient histories of Greece and Israel....

4) Il compositore Leo Brouwer ha detto di essere stato colpito dalla chiarezza e dal lirismo

delle sue esecuzioni. Si riconosce in questo tributo?

Leo Brouwer said he was struck by the clarity and poetry of your playing. Did you recognize

yourself in this definition?

Leo was one of the first composers to write for me, and his Afro-Cuban influenced El

Decameron Negro has become legendary. It is a work inspired by poetry and which

demands color, clarity, contrast and emotion, so I’m glad Leo feels that I have captured his

intended spirit.

5) Come è nata la sua passione per la chitarra classica?

How did you become interested in classical guitar?

Our family lived in Varese for a year when I was nine years old. When my oldest brother

asked for guitar lessons, my parents discovered the wonderful classical guitarist Aldo

Minella who commuted weekly from Milan to teach. But my brother’s fantasy was to be the

next Elvis Presley, so he declined the lessons and I volunteered to take his place. I loved it

immediately.

6) Ha suonato con i grandi del jazz e del rock, ha inciso con la New York Philharmonic l'unico

Cd ma registrato da questa celebre orchestra con un chitarrista, ha vinto un Grammy Award,

ha firmato la colonna sonora del film di Scorsese “The Departed”, ha avuto 39 copertine in

tutto il mondo. C'è un traguardo che non ha ancora raggiunto?

You performed with great jazz musicians and rock stars, recorded with NY Philharmonic the

first ever Cd this orchestra made with a guitarist, won a Grammy, performed the soundtrack

of Scorsese's The Departed, were featured on 39 cover around the world. Is there any goal

you haven't achieved yet?

I look forward in the next couple of years to recording the duo that rock guitarist Steve Vai

wrote for the two of us. I’ve also been taking Latin dance lessons these last several months,

and hope to become fluent – both as a leader and follower - in Cha Cha, Tango, Salsa,

Merengue, Rhumba, Mambo and other dances.

7) E' la prima volta che Tan Dun scrive per lei?

Is this concerto (YI2) the first work composed for you by Tan Dun?

Tan Dun wrote the guitar concerto for me in 1996, and I premiered it in Germany with the

Orchestre National de France. It was his first work for me, and it is inspired by the beautiful

folk tradition of the ancient Chinese lute (pipa) and the rich heritage of the Spanish

flamenco guitar of the gypsies. This remarkable interweaving of the two cultures and styles

makes this dramatic work compelling and engaging. My recording of it is paired with an

equally amazing concerto written for me by Christopher Rouse inspired by the Barcelona

architect Antoni Gaudi.

8) Lei dice di non considerare un “no” una risposta definitiva. Sempre così ottimista?

You said you didn't take no for an answer. Are you always so optimistic?

When the first composer I ever asked to write a concerto said no and then changed his mind

after hearing me play, I learned that if you really believe in something, you can find a path

to make it happen.

9) Non è la prima volta che suona in Italia. Le piace questo Paese?

This not the first time you perform in Italy. Do you like this country?

Every time I return to Italy I remember my childhood, and am grateful for the opportunity

this country afforded me to discover my passion for the guitar. I love the history, beauty and

diversity of the land, and the warmth and generosity of the people. It was always my dream

to return, and I’m so happy now to perform in Italy every year.

********************************************