24-05-28 20:02

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars the cure for classical apathy November 28, 2012

By Anonymous

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Classical music is dying.

There, I said it.

While my goal isn't to commit heresy to all of those loyal classical music listeners that are anything but fair weather fans, it is still time to sober up to the facts. The first step of recovering from any problem is admitting there is a problem.

As a fan of all genres of music (rap/hip hop/r&b, country, alternative rock, pop/top40, etc) including classical, I am in no denial of the reality that is classical music's status today.

While there is no doubt that classical music is as valuable and timeless as ever, the cultural impact and relevance it plays in our lives is relegated to sometimes being SEEN as the go to choice of senior citizens and the bourgeoise.

Actually, class warfare between the 1% and the 99% is portrayed with excesses like private jets and the exploitation of the working man. You can camp for days in front of Best Buy to shop on black friday, but you'll get arrested very quickly if you camp to Occupy Wall Street. Unfortunately the opera house and classical music is seen just as inaccessible and superfluous to those who haven't been given an opportunity for exposure to it.

That's where the cellist YuJeong Lee steps in.

With the help of conductor Florian Krumpock and the excellent Norddeutsche Philharmonie Rostock orchestra, this recording reminds us that classical music doesn't have to be defined in one way or another. That classical music doesn't have to be dumb-ed down for the rest of us and that the answer is NOT another pop series or the "best of [insert bach, beethoven, mozart, etc]".

Prokofiev is by no means a novice's domain. But where Miss Lee's musicality shines through is that she makes him accessible to "the rest of us." She reminds us that Prokofiev' arrogance and faith in his own innovative style doesn't have to be a characteristic of its interpretation. It's a great juxtaposition of a man's crass ego against a talented cellist who gives technical deference to the concerto itself.

Let me get as simple as I can get: The cello sounds better than any other string instrument, and Miss Lee reminds us why.

****No hate mail from violinists and Paganini fanboys, please.****

Miss Lee's tonal qualities and her astute awareness of the balanced emotion needed throughout the pieces perfectly showcase Prokofiev' difficult work for the cello.

I'm excited cause I haven't wanted to buy music in a while but buying this for $14 was not the same thing as torrenting Justin Bieber or Psy's Gangnam style.

My small disappointment is I like hard cases for my CDs. This is a paper case (not thin or weak by any means, but not plastic).

Side note:

Prokofiev is strange. His mix of classical and neoclassical themes create a odd home for his otherwise unrestrained romanticism (listen to Romeo and Juliet on this CD). That combined with his often unusual time signatures probably earned him his "genius" status among the great 20th century composers. Along with large failures and successes I guess.

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