Poems & Rhapsodies
Centaur, 2022
8/10
The violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv aligns herself with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, where she interprets the works of European and American composers on the aptly titled Poems & Rhapsodies.
Camille Saint-Saëns’ “La muse et le poète, Op. 132” starts the listen with Sophie Shao’s warm cello complementing Ivakhiv’s expressive and diverse string manipulation that spans from light and airy to moody, and Ernest Chausson’s “Poème, Op. 25” follows with a sublime spirit of gorgeous violin acrobatics.
In the middle, “The Lark Ascending”, by Ralph Vaughn Williams, floats with a dreamy demeanor of precise string work, while “Poem for Violin and Orchestra in D Minor” is the fullest track, where the orchestra blends their twinkling and firm dynamics into the lush climate.
“American Rhapsody”, by Kenneth Fuchs, arrives near the end and quivers with a cinematic quality of grace and tension, and Myroslav Skoryk’s “Carpathian Rhapsody” exits the listen with a rare piece that showcases Ivakhiv’s flawless playing in a very agile and alluring finish.
An artist who has excelled in both solo and chamber situations, Ivakhiv just recently released her recordings of Mendelssohn Concertos and Haydn and Hummel Concertos, and this effort is yet another exceptional installment of her inimitable talent.
Travels well with: Shea-Kim Duo- The Sound And The Fury; Sergei Kvitko- MOZART. Post Scriptum