Search - James Maddalena, Yo-Yo Ma, Elliot Goldenthal :: Elliot Goldenthal: Fire Water Paper (A Vietnam Oratorio)

Mystically beautiful

Tim Owen | San Francisco, CA | 01/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have only given this recording four stars, because the recording itself is not the best. For the most part it is very good, however the sopranos tend to sharp miserably in the big Forte chorale sections, and the balance between the different choirs, and between the choirs and orchestra leaves something to be desired. This is the first Goldenthal recording I have ever heard, and I was blown away. It constantly teaters between sometimes less than beautiful A-tonality and passionate beautiful sound. The rythmic conventions employed by Goldenthal in the second movement are extremely effective, and moving. This is an incredibly powerful piece of music, that leaves me in awe after every listening. This recording is well worth the money, you will not be dissapointed."

A great oratorio

moussig | 08/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Penderecki recently told a French music newspaper that Messiaen and him probably were the last composers to work on big scale oratorios. With all due respect, he is wrong. Mr Goldenthal proves with Fire water paper how magnificently he is able to compete with his glorious predecessors.First, I am amazed by the perfection of the architecture. It's not so easy to build a 30-minute-long movement with no holes nor weaknesses. Here, we can hardly find an unuseful bar, and we can follow step by step the progression of the music - as we can in Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique, for example.Then, the mixing of different elements (western and oriental cultures, various languages...) could lead to a complete cacophony, but such is not the case: we hear the American Anthem played on electric guitar rigth in the middle of a Mahler-like movement, and we find it perfectly natural - almost obvious. This is not only linked to Mr Goldenthal's craftmanship, in my opinion, but also to his sincerity in working on such a difficult subject.Lastly, we find here again the usual skill of Mr Goldenthal in dealing with boychoirs, wind sections, rythms and orchestration. I am not completely pleased with the performance, but it is good enough not to spoil the neverending pleasure of listening to this music.Note: all the French music magazines have rated this oratorio their highest scores, and God knows they are usually tough with young composers!"

Fantastically written!

Music Is Everything | 09/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think that this is the most unsettling, most chaotically written, most upseting CD. I loved it. i think the whole...strange manner of the scherzo was just brilliant and the sparatic hits of the entire orchestra in fire was so... i can't even find the words."