Compassion

CD Review by John McGrody
Fifteen of today's leading composers have written works for a new Angel Records CD called Compassion: A Tribute to Yehudi Menuhin. It commemorates the life of an extraordinary talent, and it celebrates the vision of his student and protégée, the Israeli-born violinist Edna Mitchell.

With the full support and participation of Sir Yehudi (who passed away in 1999), Ms. Mitchell suggested that the composers create works inspired by the theme of universal compassion, as "an antidote to the chaotic times we live in," to the human suffering and inhuman atrocities occurring throughout the world.

"This has been a journey of the spirit," says Mitchell, reflecting Menuhin's firm belief in humanitarianism. "I think the 15 styles of these works have a common denominator: they communicate directly with the listener through a spacious, meditative, transparent quality, with a sense of timelessness."

The violin is the central instrument in each of these works, scored for various ensembles, with Mitchell serving as the CD's main soloist. Her playing is warm and expressive always (though her intonation can be approximate at times—a Menuhin tradition.) Other artists include violinists Ulf Hoelscher, Shlomo Mintz, Bohuslav Matousek and Nachum Erlich, cellist Michal Kanka, pianist Igor Ardasev, clarinetist Ludmilla Peterková, sopranos Susan Narucki and Patricia Rozario, the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra under Lukas Foss, the Karlsruhe Ensemble under Andreas Weiss, and the late Allen Ginsberg narrating his own verse in a piece by Philip Glass.

Other composers include Lukas Foss (in a Romance for Violin, Soprano and Strings with text from Walt Whitman's Love), Hans Werner Henze (in a surprisingly romantic Serenade for Piano Trio, called Adagio adagio), John Tavener, Steve Reich, Chen Yi, Yinam Leef, Poul Ruders, Somei Satoh, Wolfgang Rihm, Iannis Xenakis, Karel Husa, Betty Olivero, György Kurtág, and Pulitzer Prize-winner Shulamit Ran, who has served as Composer-in-Residence with both the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera, in a piece called Yearning.

These 15 pieces range in duration from three to eight minutes. Many administer "healing music" of a soothing spirit, while others pack stronger doses of a more passionate "compassion." But in all cases, their music is therapeutic.

Compassion: A Tribute to Yehudi Menuhin
Tavener: Song of the Angel - Ulf Hoescher, violin; Susan Narucki, soprano; Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra/Lukas Foss (4:36); Shulamit Ran: Yearning - Edna Mitchell, violin; Michal Kanka, cello; Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra/Lukas Foss (8:08); Chen-Yi: Romance of Hsiao and Ch'iu for 2 Violins and Strings—Ulf Hoelscher & Nachum Erlich, violins; Karlsruhe Ensemble/Andreas Weiss (3:59); Hans Werner Henze: Adagio adagio for Piano Trio - Edna Mitchell, violin; Michal Kanka, cello; Igor Arda_ev , piano (3:28); Yinam Leef: T'Filah - Edna Mitchell, Ulf Hoelschler & Nachum Erlich, violins (5:44); Poul Ruders: Credo - Shlomo Mintz & Ulf Hoelscher, violins; Ludmilla Peterková, clarinet; Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra/Lukas Foss (5:38); Somei Satoh: Innocence - Edna Mitchell, violin; Patricia Rozario; Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra/Lukas Foss (7:19); Wolfgang Rihm: Cantilena - Edna Mitchell, violin (3:49); Iannis Xenakis: Hunem-Iduhey - Edna Mitchell, violin; Michal Kanka, cello (3:01); Lukas Foss: Romance for Violin, Soprano and Strings (with text from Walt Whitman's Love)—Edna Mitchell, violin; Patricia Rozario, soprano; Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra/Lukas Foss (5:56), Karel Husa: Stèle - Edna Mitchell, violin (6:13); Betty Olivero: Achòt Ketana—Edna Mitchell, Ulf Hoelscher & Bohuslav Matou_ek, violins; Patricia Rozario, soprano: Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra/Lukas Foss (6:21); György Kurtág: Ligatura - Edna Mitchell & Ulf Hoelscher, violins (2:55); Philip Glass: Echorus (with text by Allen Ginsberg, from Wales Visitation) - Edna Mitchell & Ulf Hoelscher, violins; Allen Ginsberg, narrator; Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra/Lukas Foss (7:28). Angel Records 7243 5 57174 2 4, total playing time 79:13.