Fire & Ice | Sarah Chang, Placido Domingo

Fire & Ice | Sarah Chang, Placido Domingo | Chang v. Perlman

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Fire & Ice

	Fire & Ice Sarah Chang, Placido Domingo EMI Classics, 2002 average customer review:based on 12 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Here's a handy collection of popular works for violin and orchestra. The title apparently refers to the mix of warmly romantic music, like the Massenet Méditation, and flashy virtuoso stuff, like the Sarasate Carmen Fantasy and Zigeunerweisen. Sarah Chang excels in both areas. Her Dvorák and Beethoven Romances are sweetly sung, while the insanely virtuosic Tzigane by Ravel, with its wild staccato and chordal effects, she tosses off without breaking a sweat. Except for the romanticized Bach Air from the Suite No. 3, there are no stylistic transgressions, and the mix of fiery virtuoso fare and romantic slower beauties keeps interest alive throughout. Conductor Placido Domingo's proficient accompaniments don't get in her way. All the selections are familiar. Such violin virtuosi as Suk, Oistrakh, Grumiaux, Vengerov, and Perlman have recorded most of them, often coming closer to capturing the inner glow of the music. But Chang's exciting performances can't fail to please, especially if you want all these favorites on one disc. --Dan Davis

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I'm impressed . . .

I put the CD in CD player, turned up the volume, and went about the house doing domestic things. I had to stop doing the dishes, dry my hands, and run upstairs (and I do not like the stairs, have major issues with the stairs!) just to check the disc information. The playing was that good, jaw-droppingly so. I'm impressed.

Chang v. Perlman

This album has almost the same repertoire as one by Perlman. Some days I prefer the Perlman version, other days I prefer Sarah's version. Sarah has been a perfect technical virtuoso since she was 13. At age 19, she has matured in her artistic interpretation to rival the best in the world. (I consider Itzak Perlman to be the best, but Sarah is nearly his equal, and she is yet quite young.) I eagerly await each new album she publishes. I wish she would come to town so I could hear her live. I also wish she would record occasionally on analog LP, especially direct disc. I find CDs much less faithful to the sound of live music than LPs, though at least todays CD players are somewhat listenable, instead of making the dreadful sounds they did when the medium was new.

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Fire and Ice? Fire, yes. But ? Brava Sarah! Theresa NY

After listening to this CD by Sarah Chang I can see the Fire in all of the selections, even the "Meditiation" by Massenet. But where the Ice comes in I cannot tell. Sarah plays with such vibrance and zeal and even if you've never heard the selection before it doesn't matter. Her interpretation of "Zigeunerweisen" is the best I have ever heard. And I think Placido Domingo also does a fabulous job of conducting. All in all, this is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable CD's I own. I urge you to buy it. You won't be sorry.

She keeps getting better!

If you love Sarah Chang, you can't go wrong with this one. Ditto if you love Carmen, Meditation from Thais, etc. There's that one track, Ravel's Tzigane, I can't develop a taste for no matter who plays it (except possibly David Oistrakh on You Tube, watching his chubby cheeks hit both sides of his face). And guess what? Placido Domingo didn't sing a note. (LOL)

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Just Plain Awsome!

I recently saw a video of Sarah Chang playing Carmen when she was only 10 or so. She has continued to amaze me with her amazing talent and I was thrilled to listen to the selections on this cd. I definitely would recommend this cd to anyone who loves a variety of slow and just amazing selections of music.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3

Tracks
Introduction: Allegro moderato | I: Moderato | II: Lento assai | III: Allegro moderato | IV: Moderato | Air

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