Search - Mark O'Connor :: Mark O'Connor: The Fiddle Concerto

Who says nobody writes listenable music anymore?

Alan Dean Foster | Prescott, AZ United States | 07/02/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If Beethoven or Schumann had been able to make a trip to the new Republic and attend a few barn-raisin's and hoe-downs, they might have written something like Mark O'Connor's Fiddle Concerto. Bursting with joie d'vivre, the virtuostic composer/performer has given those of us starved for something new to listen to the benefit of his considerable talents. Though clearly less comfortable writing for the full orchestra than for his beloved fiddle, or for the string section, O'Connor nonetheless has done himself proud with those portions of the concerto that do make use of the rest of the orchestra. So much so that one wishes, despite the joys of listening to O'Connor strum solo, that he had lavished more time on writing orchestral counterpoint for his instrument of choice, as some of the solo sections cry out for a challenge from the woodwinds, or a bay from the brass. If anything, the string Quartet that rounds out the CD is even more skillfully put together."

Bluegrass Meets Mozart

R. W. Rasband | Heber City, UT | 10/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This wonderful CD is an honest attempt to marry American bluegrass idom to classical music forms. The result manages to be both toe-tapping and extraordinarily rich; maybe Dvorak would have joined in with O'Connor if he were alive today and came back to Iowa. I can't recommend this highly enough."

American Genius

D. P. Wolfe | Littleton, CO United States | 07/20/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is the classical debut from one of America's greatest musical treasures of this generation. Mark has been a legend in bluegrass and acoustic music circles for years. His fiddle playing and prowess on pretty much all stringed instruments have been showcased to bluegrass and traditional music fans the world over for years. Now Mark has invaded the world of classical music, and has first CD is wonderful. Mark's playing is sheer joy and his melodic sense is delightful. A aual feast for the ears and the soul. His concerto is not as well composed as some of the classics, that that is more than compensated for with Mark's dead on playing and infectious energy. If Mark continues to mature in his compositional sense and keeps his bluegrass roots intact, we will have many more classic concertos coming from him. Buy this CD and rediscover passion in modern music."