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The Protecting Veil / Wake Up ... And Die
Yo-Yo Ma, John Tavener
The Protecting Veil / Wake Up ... And Die
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (8) - Disc #1

Inspired by the Orthodox Church's Feast of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God, Tavener's The Protecting Veil is a dark and moody work for cello and orchestra that secures his place as a modern day mystic. Filled with...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Yo-Yo Ma, John Tavener
Title: The Protecting Veil / Wake Up ... And Die
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sony
Release Date: 8/11/1998
Genre: Classical
Styles: Forms & Genres, Concertos, Instruments, Strings, Symphonies
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 074646282120, 074646282182

Synopsis

Amazon.com essential recording
Inspired by the Orthodox Church's Feast of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God, Tavener's The Protecting Veil is a dark and moody work for cello and orchestra that secures his place as a modern day mystic. Filled with the lyrical solo passages, Tavener wrote the composition with the cello enacting the role of the Mother of God; accordingly, the instrument is up-front and center on the disc. Yo-Yo Ma lends an impassioned and impeccable performance to the recording, retaining the work's meditative nature, while David Zinman and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra remain reserved in their accompaniment. The effect is both haunting and beautiful. The world premiere recording of the introspective Wake Up ... And Die concludes the disc and is a fine presentation of Ma's talents, but the composition lacks the ethereal punch of Protecting. --Jason Verlinde

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CD Reviews

The Definitive Tavenor
10/09/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)

"A piece composed by Tavenor to celebrate the existence of the Protecting Veil (God's mother) as mentioned in some ancient religious literature. It was originally dedicated to the English cellist Steven Isserlis who by all means gave a fantastic performance. However, I have been secretly hoping for an offering by Ma, arguably the most fascinating and captivating cellist in the world today. And I am not at all disappointed by the long wait (almost five years after the Isserlis release!). This recording captured the attention from the first long sustained note to the end where a recap of the introduction theme wrapped up the whole piece. If there is a single word that can possibly describe this piece, it has to be 'sublime'. Tonally beautifully crafted with heavy dynamic contrast, the piece flows with an emotional strength that is strong enough to seize the bottom of the mind, and this force can only be second to (maybe) The Piano Concerto by Michael Nyman. It can be exhaustive after the whole piece if you allow yourself to be drawn into it.I enjoyed it and I hope you do, too. This is another amazing performance from Ma/Zinman and his orchestra, the other one being the Albert Cello Concerto which I believe is a 'must have' for all classical music lovers. I can't recommend these two recordings more highly."
I like "The Protecting Veil" but not "Wake Up and Die"
06/02/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)

"I wrote an extensive paper for my doctorate in music on John Tavener's "The Protecting Veil" and listened to all of the current performances that were available up through 1999. I enjoyed this recording, but I also recommend the original Steven Isserlis recording or the newer one by "I Fiamminghi" which also contains the beautiful "Last Sleep of the Virgin" (instead of "Wake Up and Die" for cello choir that the Ma recording includes.) Try the "I Fiamminghi" as well as this beautiful recording. Cellist Raphael Wallfisch also plays this piece beautifully."
A lucky accident
03/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I obtained this CD by accident. It's a long story, but I never intended to get it. Heck, I didn't even know who John Tavener was. After a couple of listens though, I really warmed up to the CD. Tavener's music is ethereal and thought provoking. The honesty and wrenching intensity won me over immediately. The music's spiritual message "encouraged" me to look at my own spiritual state, and I can say it has inspired me to do a lot of thinking and to try to change some things for the better. This is amazing music that will change you! Thanks John Tavener for writing it, and Yo Yo Ma for playing it!"