Search - :: Plays Philip Glass: Circles

Interpretive richness and depth

Daniel R. Greenfield | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | 07/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Italian import is sure to please even those who are critical of Glass's music. It is a small collection of Glass's works performed by the Italian concert pianist Arturo Stalteri. The purpose of the album, as explained on the cover, is "to place the `classic' composer Glass in a position of absolute distinction." Stalteri does this by performing these works with "interpretive richness and depth." From the moment you open the CD case for the very first time and see that photo of Glass and Stalteri sitting and talking together, you will realize that you are in for a real treat. From the moment when you hear the first notes of "Opening" you will be blown away by the tender beauty of this music. Every track on this album is a delight, and the overall effect is mesmerizing. The liner notes, in Italian and English, feature a short interview with Glass together with brief comments by Stalteri on each of the works that are here performed. As explained in the commentary, Stalteri chose "Circles" as the name for this album because "the music of Philip Glass has no beginning and no end." It also possess a "three dimensional quality surrounding the listener and performer with the balance inherent in the sphere." While some of Glass's albums can seem like "geese", this one is a rare and beautiful white swan. Don't let it get away!"

Very nice intro. to Glass panio music

Mark Kharas | Tulsa, OK United States | 03/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD has all the different kinds of Glass panio music you could ask for on a single CD! There is the very fun and lyrical Mad Rush, that is longer than on many other CD recordings, and there is the typical repititous paterns on the Opening, and the Metemorphosis sample (there are five in all). The soloist Materiali Sonori, has some of Glass' larger works scaled down to the panio (this is what he did in the North Star segments), and it is such an experience! It seems that the original music was written solely for panio in the first place. There is then the Closing, modified by the soloist again, but it brings an eloquent close to such a great CD. The title of the CD, Circles, says it all in this music. Throughout the 55 min. of this CD you go through many little circles in the individual tracks, or one huge circle with the Opening, Closing, and everything inbetween. This music is great either as backroung music for work, or just to sit down and listen to while reading a book, but it can also be very rewarding to intently listen to these pieces at least one to get all the beauty that this CD has to offer."

A fine reappraisal.

Mark Twain | Valencia, Ca United States | 10/28/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having had heard Philip Glass twice publically perform his works for piano, naturally I approached this release by the the - unknown-to-me - Italian pianist with some purchaser's resistance.Needless to worry; it has delights for both the hard-core Glassites and neophytes, alike.Probably the fact that four of the selections were Stalteri's own arrangements relieved any need for comparisons to the composer's performances.The selection from the North Star soundtrack - Etoile Polaire - I found to be especially poignant.Also, Aria from Act II of Satagaraha sounded as if it could have been written solely as piano literature. (No doubt, it had been.)A last suggestion: Play this one on your very best speakers."