Breaking Barriers
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
Carlos Bastidas founded the Ontario Pops Orchestra in 2014, and this debut album spotlights 3 soloists, i.e. violinists Tanya Charles Iveniuk and Yanet Campbell Secades and bassoonist Marlene Ngalissamy across 2 discs of interpretations of Bach and Vivaldi, plus others.
Mozart’s “Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550” starts the listen with very animated and fluid strings amid the flowing winds of the agile opener, and “The Four Seasons, RV 315 "Summer", by Vivaldi, follows with much emotion in the cautious, stirring string interaction.
Disc 1 exits with “St. Paul's Suite for String Orchestra, Op. 29, No. 2”, by Gustav Holst, where the dancing strings and meticulous energy is very much appreciated, while “Serenade in G Major, K. 525 "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" interprets the classic with plenty of charm and a timeless appeal.
Moving deeper into disc 2, Bach’s “Violin Concerto in A minor, No. 1, BWV 1041” showcases very skilled violin playing that’s complemented by the dynamic collaboration between the orchestra, and “Bassoon Concerto in E minor, RV 484”, by Vivaldi, finishes the listen with a uniquely layered approach that’s creatively executed.
Perhaps the most diverse orchestra in Canada who illuminate the work of women and BIPOC composers/instrumentalists, the selections here are colorful, flexible and extremely well fleshed out.
Travels well with: Apollo Chamber Players- MoonStrike; John-Henry Crawford- Dialogo