Elfman-Hailstork Concertos
Naxos, 2023
8/10
Listen to Elfman-Hailstork Concertos
The esteemed conductor JoAnn Falletta has certainly earned her many Grammy wins, and this body of work continues her astonishing catalog of 125 titles with a recording from two radiant and very antipodal American artists, Danny Elfman and Adolphus Hailstork.
The first half of the listen belongs to Elfman’s Violin Concerto “Eleven Eleven”, where the swift and expressive strings are met with atmospheric percussion that flows in and out of rich, busy and very animated textures. Sandy Cameron’s violin is especially lively during this portion, and helps cultivate a very cinematic presence.
The back half of the listen belongs to Hailstork’s “Piano Concerto No. 1”, where the intimate keys from Stewart Goodyear guide the cautious and dreamy delivery that can be bare, sometimes exploratory and truly showcases Goodyear’s inimitable talent.
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is in attendance, and they certainly contribute much skill and poise, as Falletta’s vision unfolds with a sometimes haunting, often energetic and always unpredictable affair.
Travels well with: Florent Schmitt- La Tragédie de Salomé; Orion Weiss- Arc II: Ravel, Brahms, Shostakovich