Record Reviews

CONSTANTINOPLE / HOLLAND BAROQUE ~ DIALOGOS: FRANCIS OF ASSISI MEETS MALIK AL-KAMIL PENTATONE 8717306264938 (Barcode: 8717306264938) ~ NETHERLANDS ~ World Music & Folklore Recorded: 2025 Released: 2026 This is an album presenting a collaboration between two ensembles: Canadian ConstantinopleFind albums by this artist, which blends Early Music and Middle-Eastern / Persian traditions and Dutch Holland BaroqueFind albums by this artist Orchestra, which specializes in blending Baroque Classical Music with other genres, including Jazz and World Music, which is led by sisters Judith SteenbrinkFind albums by this artist and Tineke SteenbrinkFind albums by this artist. This cross-cultural dialogue is symbolically based upon the legendary encounter between Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik al-Kamil in 1219, during the Fifth Crusade, which sets an example for cross-cultural and even cross-religious dialogue. The music includes new compositions by Constantinople members Didem BasarFind albums by this artist and Kiya TabassianFind albums by this artist and the Steenbrink sisters, as well as some 17th Century Ottoman music. The traditional Persian instruments (setar / kanun) blend perfectly with the European strings, and the resulting music is absolutely heavenly, especially for listeners familiar with the oriental harmonies, which might sound somewhat strange at first to people used to Western musical traditions. But of course with some open-mindedness and curiosity, everything falls into place after a while and the power of music prevails. Although meeting between musical cultures are quite popular and often very successful in other genres, especially in Jazz and World Music, those are quite rare within the Classical Music milieu, which makes this album especially important, innovative and powerful. The music might take a while to get used to, but the effort is certainly richly rewarded. The album offers a superb sound quality, which of course adds to the aesthetic perfection of the entire enterprise. Overall, this is not only a beautiful album full of uplifting music, but also a highly educational musical experience of building bridges between Cultures, as well as an example of mutual respect and cooperation, leading to a better world.

Updated: 01/02/2026Posted: 01/02/2026

CD 1 Digipak SACD Gold Recommend To A Friend

HOLLAND BAROQUE / BASTARDA ~ MINNE PENTATONE 8717306260022 (Barcode: 8717306260022) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is the 6th album by Polish trio BastardaFind albums by this artist comprising of clarinetist Pawel SzamburskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Tomasz PokrzywinskiFind albums by this artist and contrabass clarinetist Michal GorczynskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with the Holland BaroqueFind albums by this artist orchestra under the artistic leadership of Judith SteenbrinkFind albums by this artist (violin) and Tineke SteenbrinkFind albums by this artist (keyboards), which comprises (on this album) of nine violinists, a keyboardist and a guest reciter. The album presents nine tracks, two of which are credited to Bastarda, four to Judith Steenbrink, one is a Georgian chant and two are by early music composers. The album’s concept was inspired by the texts of the 13th Century female poet HadewijchFind albums by this artist, who lived as a Flemish beguine in Brabant. Her exceptionally expressive love poems are a unique Medieval literary phenomenon. The music offers a superb amalgam of cross-genre aspirations, combining ideally improvisation, Medieval and Baroque musical traditions and above all reflecting a spiritual connection between the seemingly separate worlds Bastarda and the orchestra belong to, but as usual in the case of the trio’s legacy, their chameleonic ability to adopt and integrate their music with the music of other musicians / ensembles, works like a dream. The Holland Baroque orchestra manifests a remarkable open-mindedness in this collaboration, especially as far as improvisation in concerned, since this project is largely improvised in many respects, both conceptual and musical. This praiseworthy flexibility enabled the wonderful symbiosis, which characterizes this beautiful piece of music, without any artistic compromises. Overall, this is a remarkable album, full of enchanting music, which bridges effortlessly across Centuries of music and Culture, preserving respectfully the original compositions and contemporary musical approaches, all perfectly performed with elegance and a wink of stylish aesthetics. Not surprisingly, the album offers also sublime sound quality and SACD audio. Bravo!

Updated: 31/05/2024Posted: 31/05/2024

CD 1 Digipak SACD Recommend To A Friend