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Perfectly Free

Maja Bogdanovic, Phion Orchestra of Gelderland, Xandi van Dijk

Label
Merkava Music
EAN / barcode
821530855324
Release date
12 September 2022
Format
Digital
Perfectly Free brings together two contemporary cello concertos - Osvaldo Golijov's Azul and Anna Clyne's DANCE - in a live recording that cellist Maja Bogdanović describes as a deeply personal journey of discovery. Both works premiered at the Stift International Music Festival with the Phion Symphony Orchestra under the direction of David Cohen (Azul) and Xandi van Dijk (DANCE). Golijov's Azul is presented as a poetic, otherworldly tapestry of colors and styles, ranging from baroque influences to Piazzolla-inspired rhythms, enriched by an unusual orchestration featuring a distinctive accordion part and a wide array of exotic percussion. The concert unfolds as a cosmic vision - sometimes improvised, sometimes devotional - and culminates in soundscapes reminiscent of radio signals, stardust and distant galaxies. Clyne's DANCE, inspired by Rumi's poetry, contrasts this with a five-part exploration of raw emotion and virtuosity that pushes the expressive and technical boundaries of the cello. The work moves from fragility to rhythmic intensity, from baroque purity to devilish energy, and combines folkloric elements, lyrical lines and personal nostalgia - including a haunting dedication to the composer's father at the end. Bogdanović emphasizes the profound artistic collaboration behind the recording and points to the rare creative "telepathy" with Golijov and the intuitive collaboration with van Dijk. Golijov says: "Perhaps the greatest pleasure I know in music is the telepathy between composer and performer. I'm beginning to get used to it when I experience it with long-term collaborators who immediately understand the music, which I myself only understand after months of work. But I am surprised when telepathy develops with a musician I have just met. That is what happened with Maja: There is no need for words to explain something. Maja understands Azul better than I do. That gives me an enormous sense of relief. I know that I don't need to be present to let my music live in the world. For that I am grateful to Maja. David Cohen and the Phion Symphony Orchestra prove to be ideal accompanists on this Azul recording, which I very much love. The combination with the beautiful music of Anna Clyne makes the recording even more special and dear to me.
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Tracklist

  1. 01 Azul for cello, obbligato group and orchestra: I. Paz Sulfúrica 07:28
  2. 02 Azul for cello, obbligato group and orchestra: II. Silencio 05:30
  3. 03 Azul for cello, obbligato group and orchestra: III. Transit 07:15
  4. 04 Azul for cello, obbligato group and orchestra: IV. Yrushalem 07:44
  5. 05 Dance for cello and orchestra: I. when you’re broken open 05:04
  6. 06 Dance for cello and orchestra: II. if you’ve torn the bandage off 03:57
  7. 07 Dance for cello and orchestra: III. in the middle of the fighting 05:11
  8. 08 Dance for cello and orchestra: IV. in your blood 05:34
  9. 09 Dance for cello and orchestra: V. when you’re perfectly free 07:06

Source: MusicBrainz

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