soar ey cess Si THE PLAIN DEALER Kees) CLASSICAL MUSIC % Beethoven Violin Concerto i Lisa Batiashull, violin; Deutsche Kammerphitharmonie Bremen Sony Classical Lisa Batiashwil isnt just a superb votnist. She's also a smart programmer, wisely placing Beethoven after six Colorful miniatures by Sulkhan Tsintsadze, a 20th-century composer from the republic of Georgia comparably steeped in folk tradition. But while the short pieces a musical trifecta, wiel peerless technical and ‘are captivating, the concerto is the stunner. Batiashvill is iding dramatic fire and poetic expression in tandem with tonal assurance. Hold on particularly tightly during her cadenzas. They’re phenomenal. Grade: A — Zachary Lewis Dohnanyi, Kodaly, Strauss: Cello Sonatas Nancy Green, cello; Tannis Gibson, piano JIRI Recordings ‘The three cello sonatas ‘on this resplendent recording come from early periods in each ‘composer's career. Dohnany/'s creation is, heavily influenced by Brahms but sparked by personal touches full of romantic allure. The folk aspects that make Kodaly so distinctive are already in striking place, while the young Richard Strauss takes cello and piano through charismatic and lyrical flights. Celist Nancy Green merges her richly nuanced artistry beautifully with Tannis Gibson's crystalline pia- nism. Grade: A — Don- ald Rosenberg Bach’s Mass Vivaldi and in B Minor Piazzolla: The Les Musiciens. Four Seasons du Louvre; Mare Lara St.John, violin Minkowski, conduc- Simon Bolivar Youth tor Orchestra of Ven- Naive ezuela Theterm “authentic” Ancalagon doesnt quite encom Vals famous con- ass this performance. certo share acs with Beyond the smallor- stor Piazollals "The chestra and tiny band of Four Seasons of Buenos singers typical of most ies” orginally scored Historically informed for bandoneon and TOUS, Minkowski of- strings, but here trans- ten treats Bach's choral formed for solo violin masterpiece as iit and string orchestra were another Branden by Leonid Desyatikov. burg Concerto. hatis The Piazzolla pieces are toy, fast and light. So ling, catapulted losbenefitiom warm teeAmetine compos” instrumental playing, ers inimitable fla and asightly moreretaxed tango genus Lara St pace and savory vbra- Johns as captivating {ore vocalism. But in inthe seductive scenes choral sections textual ofthe Pazzollaas she and dramatic details of _iscrisp, caressing and tenfallby the wayside colofulin Vivalds inthe name of sprit, atmospheric pacans to Grade: B— 2 ‘ature. Grade: AD. Account A020V6 (2389) Page 1 of2THE PLAIN DEALER ; SUNDAY — Stevens fowspecer's) Tia eatasni Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5, “Francesca da ‘Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela; Gustavo Dudamel, conductor Deutsche Grammophon Gustavo Dudamel isthe brightest shooting star on the con- dlucting scene, which his new Tchaikovsky lsc confirms to Vibrant effect. The Fifth Symphony is trenchantly considered, its brooding and majes- tic episodes given equal weight through subtle phrasing and malleable tempos. Du ddamel whips up an exciting frenzy inthe finale and brings gripping dramatic urgency ‘to “Francesca da Rimini.” The Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela sounds nothing ike a youthful ensemble. The playing is magnificent. Grade: A — D.R. Account A020V6 (2389) Page 2 of2