The Fiddler of the Opera

Transcriptions from Operas of Bizet, Gershwin, Gluck, Mozart, Prokofiev, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rossini & R. Strauss

Gil Shaham is the leading violinist of his generation. He was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 1990, and in 2008 he received the coveted Avery Fisher Prize. In 2012, Gil was named 'Instrumentalist of the Year' by Musical America, citing his “special kind of humanism”. Combine this “humanism” with a flawless technique and his generosity of spirit, and the musical results are nothing short of inspired.

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Great Opera (10-CD Box Set)

The very first operas were performed in Florence in the mid-1590s. Since then, musical styles have blossomed and evolved out of all recognition, yet opera continues to be heavily influenced by the political, social and cultural contexts surrounding its genesis. A collaborative enterprise, an opera brings together the works of composers, librettists, singers and designers alike, generating rich veins of public response and resulting in what is surely the most dramatic of all musical media.

In this collection, we have brought together some of the most-loved operas, ranging from the elegance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni to the raw emotion of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. The lighthearted japes of Rossini’s Barber of Seville contrast royally with the pomp and spectacle of Verdi’s Aida, whilst the sultry allure of Bizet’s Carmen is the perfect foil to the lachrymose tragedy of Puccini’s La Bohème. This box is sure to entice any listener further into the magical world of opera.

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Works for Bassoon and Orchestra

“The instrument is precisely focused and the fineness of her playing shows her to be a musician of cultivated taste and sensibility...Geoghegan arrests attention immediately.” --Gramophone Magazine, November 2010

“Geoghegan delivers phenomenal brilliance and precision at top speed...And in the quiet moments, like the slow movement of Mozart's concerto, Geoghegan's lyrical playing has beautiful grace and musicianship. Responding in style, Noseda and the BBC Philharmonic contribute alert and attractive accompaniments.” --Classic FM Magazine, December 2010 *****

“It's quite rare for bassoonists to have the opportunity to perform and record their repertoire, particularly one so young, but Geoghegan is amply repaying the faith Chandos obviously has in her. This disc continues the fairy-tale outcome for Geoghegan and her Cinderella instrument of the orchestra and is worth exploring, particularly for the rarer repertoire.” --International Record Review, December 2010

Gramophone Magazine Editor's Choice - November 2010

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