Search - Giya Kancheli :: Themes From The Songbook

An unexpected cast featuring Argentine bandoneonist Dino Saluzzi, Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer and Ukrainian vibraphonist Andrei Pushkarev combine to create a Giya Kancheli album like no other! It was recorded "in secret" (in Oslo and Riga) as a surprise 75th birthday present for the great Georgian composer - ECM invited Dino Saluzzi to play the themes in his personal and highly creative way, and simultaneously Gidon Kremer, an old friend and champion of Kancheli's music, had also expressed an interest in doing something special for Giya's birthday. With Kremer and Saluzzi involved, and the skilled vibraphonist Andrey Pushkarev, the project took on new dimensions. The resulting music features duo and trio interpretations of themes from Kancheli's early music for screen and stage, and is an extremely beautiful recording of gently exhaling melody, certain to appeal to a listenership broader than the typical public for "new composition". The liner notes are by the composer's son, Sandro Kancheli, and tell the story of the Saluzzi/Kremer/Pushkarev collaboration and provide background on Giya Kancheli's works for film and theatre.