1001 Nights in the harem (2009)/ Fazil Say

Opname: 2008, 2007, 2005.\n"The lively, enjoyable violin concerto takes Sheherezade as a point de départ, but does not illustrate story scenes. The omnipresent violin assumes different characters in movements depicting the women of the harem, an energetic dance, variations on a Turkish melody and a sensuous finale, all with a middle-eastern modality in a firmly tonal context. Say pays tribute to his roots through these melodies and the use of trad. Turkish instruments and rhythms. Immensely enjoyable, instantly accessible; with a satisfyingly virtuosic rôle for the soloist (Patricia Kopatchinskaja). Patara incorporates the trad. Turkish flute (ney) in a dialogue with the piano representing themes of love in different cultures. The distinctive timbre of the ney, with its microtonal inflections and the wordless soprano part take up the theme and pass it through a dreamy and exotic landscape painted by percussion textures and a hypnotic piano part." (Records Int.)