CD ECM Records Eleni Karaindrou: Concert In Athens

2013

Kim Kashkashian Viola
Jan Garbarek Tenor Saxophone
Vangelis Christopoulos Oboe
Camerata Orchestra
Alexandros Myrat
Sergiu Nastasa Violin
Stella Gadedi Flute
Marie-Cécile Boulard Clarinet
Sonia Pisk Bassoon
Vangelis Skouras French Horn
Maria Bildea Harp
Dinos Hadjiiordanou Accordion
Aris Dimitriadis Mandolin
Eleni Karaindrou Piano



An exceptional live recording, “Concert In Athens”, the tenth ECM release by Greek composer Eleni Karaindrou, incorporates moving performances by guests Kim Kashkashian and Jan Garbarek. The US violist and the Norwegian saxophonist have each made important contributions to Karaindrou’s music in the past, Garbarek with his playing on the film-score for The Beekeeper (see “Music for Films”) and Kashkashian as the key musical protagonist of “Ulysses’ Gaze”. Themes of both those films are revisited here, amongst much that is new. A primary emphasis is music written for theatre: the wide-reaching emotional scope of pieces for plays by Arthur Miller, Tennesee Williams and Edward Albee provides a wonderful context for bringing the guest musicians into contact with Eleni’s soloists, above all the brilliant oboist Vangelis Christopoulos. Recorded November 2010, with Manfred Eicher as producer, “Concert in Athens” gives us perhaps the fullest picture of Eleni Karaindrou’s compositional creativity to date.

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ECM’s Manfred Eicher acted as artistic director for this 2010 live concert, bringing in the likes of Jan Garbarek and the brillant violinist Kim Kshkashian as soloists. There are marvellous things here. Karaindrou’s style is generally understated and subtle. Colours are muted, tempi tend to be restrained. Yet the music always moves, seems to be going somewhere and has something definite to say – there’s a welcome lack of ambient, moody blandness. [...] Kashkashian’s viola solos are sublime. The most remarkable thing about this CD is the wondrous sound. It’s warm, rich and detailed. I ended up listening to this in a darkened room, endlessly replaying the four-minute Dance from Ulysses’ Gaze. So good you’ll rush out immediately and buy copies for all your cinephile friends.
Graham Rickson, Theartsdesk.com