ASTURIANA – SONGS FROM SPAIN AND ARGENTINA BY DE FALLA, GRANADOS, GINASTERA, GUASTAVINO, BUCHARDO & MONTSALVATGE – KIM KASHKASHIAN, VIOLA/ ROBERT LEVIN, PIANO – ECM NEW SERIES
John Sunier

Audiophile Audition
Sept. 18, 07

Everything about this collection puts it on a very high level and
rates a top recommendation.

I had never been much of a fan of the viola until I heard some of
the varied recordings of Kim Kashkashian. Her viola played on the
soundtrack of Ulysses Gaze the music of Eleni Kariandrou, on an album
of Berio’s transcriptions of Sicilian folk songs, and on music of
the Armenian composer Tigran Mansurian. In all her work with modern
music she has shown a predilection for the song form.

This new release presents transcriptions for viola and piano of vocal
songs coming from the folk milieu. She and her partner at the piano
developed the transcriptions themselves, attempting to communicate a
wide range of emotions in the pieces – flamboyant, sensual, violent,
tender, passionate or reflective.

The album title comes from the initial selection by Falla; four pieces
by Granados follow, drawn from a collection of 12 Tonadillas written
"in the ancient style." The characters in the songs were inspired by
Goya’s art. Montsalvatge is also represented by four songs. The major
Falla suite is a transcription of his Seven Popular Spanish Songs,
of which one is also again titled Asturiana.

One can easily listen without paying attention to the specific
composers or songs. Just let them flow in a wonderfully atmospheric
series of improvisations on the Spanish theme, full of color,
dynamic contrasts and drama. Those of us who in general prefer the
instrumental to the vocal can still partake of the expressiveness of
the vocal line without having to hear lyrics. Everything about this
collection puts it on a very high level and rates a top recommendation.