LaScala Concert 03-03-03
Music composed by Ludovico Einaudi
Available on BMG/Ricordi Records (82876576512)
Running Time: 40:31, 64:56
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For those of you who have not yet discovered the emotive, poetic joys of the music of Ludovico Einaudi look no further than this two disc set record of his concert at LaScala on the 3rd of March 2003. Here he performs many of his best pieces on the instrument he has become synonymous with, the piano, without any kind of accompaniment or backing and the result is simply beguiling, with all of the melodic invention and melancholy those who admire the composer's work have come to expect.
What makes Einaudi's work so attractive is his poignant, individualistic style that once heard is unmistakable. His subtly beautiful piano pieces are more than capable of transporting the listener to another place, whether it be tranquil or tinged with sadness. The fact that he has also worked in film and television (most notably the recent Dr Zhivago series) is cause for celebration, and one would hope that he will be given more such opportunities as has been the case with artists like Michael Nyman and Philip Glass.
Although critics might assert that many of the pieces are similar in form and ambience and this is exacerbated by the lack of any supporting instrumentation in this live performance, there are a large number of marvellous tracks that stand out in their own right with very strong melodic structure and a haunting, passionate quality that pervades pretty much everything that Einaudi produces. Pieces like 'Giorni Dispari' and 'Passaggio' are wonderfully evocative, and there are many beautifully simple moments of elegance that stir the heart.
Do leave it too long before allowing yourself to be swept away by the timeless music of Ludovico Einaudi.
Mark Hockley
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