Boite à Musique - Vladimir Sidorov (bayan) This time we are reviewing two CDs by the same musician, Victor Sidorov ( a Russian who is resident in Canada): the first as soloist and the second in duo with the percussionist M.J.Simard. The first Cd can be labelled as a traditional anthology that , yet again , confirms the value of the Russian accordion school. Listening to the various tracks (especially the transcriptions, in many cases penned by Sidorov himself) one immediately understands that the artist chosen to play with a certain dynamic finesse rather than exhibit his manual virtuosity and in so doing, he makes the instrument sing in a very fascinating way for example, in the well written arrangement of the theme from Schindlers List he maintains a sober, equilibrated interpretation of the original score ( by J.Williams). All the pieces seem to be held together by a certain lyrical theme, even through the appearance of a couple of courageous transcriptions of Chopin ( the Waltz and Nocturne both in C# minor ) and also the adaptation of the second movement of Concerto dAranguez by Rodrigo. The two compositions by Sidorov himself are very good: the simple and almost impressionistic Berceuse and the multi faceted Trinite where various musical styles are combined : modern ethnic and romantic. Reviewed by Alessandro Mugnoz, November 2007 |