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 Alexander Sevastian has once again recorded an exciting group of pieces, this time an outstanding selection of tangos composed or arranged by some of the very finest musicians ever associated with the tango form. The performances, of course, are dazzling! Accordionist Alexander Sevastian just continues to improve with every recording he ever releases; they are simply pure perfection in every possible way!
Most of the selections are solo performances while 4 pieces include assisting musicians: Atis Bankas and Albina Molodozhan, violinists; Anna Antropova, viola; and Jonathan Tortolano, cello, all of whom are extremely fine musicians used in various combinations. This is music of the very highest caliber and one will find no fault in anything on this CD. Repertoire, performers and their performances are exceptional throughout every selection.
Alexander Sevastian (b. 1976 in Belarus), graduate of the Gnessin Academy in Moscow where he studied with Professor Friedrich Lips, and holder of an advanced certificate in performance from the Toronto Conservatory, student of Professor Joseph Macerolo, needs no introduction these days. He has won four international accordion competitions including the prestigious Coupe Mondiale in 2007 in Washington, DC. He has been active as a recitalist and chamber musician as well as soloist with the Russian Folk Instruments Orchestra in Moscow. In addition, Alexander has performed with Quartetto Gelato all over the world and with many well-known symphony orchestras. He has several recordings to his credit, all of which are superb and deserving of the recognition given them. Mr. Sevastian has made his home in Canada since 2001.
There are interesting liner notes written by Alexander Sevastian and Raymond Luedeke, the composer of the final piece on the CD. One could only wish that all such notes would accompany CDs! The listener is so much more able to appreciate and admire both the repertoire and the performers.
Included on the CD are 9 pieces: Chiquilin de Bachin, composed by Franck Angelis and based on the composition by Astor Piazzolla, Adios Nonino, Sentido unico, Contrabajeando, and Flora's Gam, all by Piazzolla; La Cachila by Eduardo Arolas; Devotion by Vyacheslac Semenov; Tango Dreams by Raymond Luedeke; and Gerardo Hernan Matos Rodriguez's popular La Cumparsita, which is probably the most famous tango ever written. Two arrangements by the prominent composer and arranger Dmitriy Varelas provide ample proof of his long-held abilities as a worker with and writer for the accordion. The background information given for each piece is quite valuable and interesting, particularly more so, perhaps, for the Semenov and Luedeke compositions.
TANGO DREAMS (AN2 8767) is produced by ANALEKTA.COM Classics on the Go, made in Canada 2013 with financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund). It is excellent and highly recommended to all.
Reviewed by Joan C.Sommers - October 2014.
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