REVIEW: ‘Odyssey: The Chamber Music Society in Greece’ on DVD
Photo: CMS musicians play at the Church of Pammegiston Taxiarchon. Photo courtesy of Live From Lincoln Center / Provided by press release.
The Live From Lincoln Center series on PBS brings some of the best classical music and performing arts to the masses on television. Those fortunate enough to live near the New York City institution can often catch these illustrious groups in person, but for those not in the Big Apple — or those wanting to relive the memories — the series allows an insider’s look at the inner-workings of art being developed and performed, similar to the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD program.
One of the best specials to came under the banner of Live From Lincoln Center is Odyssey: The Chamber Music Society in Greece, which is now available on DVD.
The nearly 90-minute program follows the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center to Greece, a country rich in history and appreciation for classical music. In between taped interviews and soaring aerial cinematography of the country are expertly realized performances by the different combinations of the society. The performances are exquisitely captured for the DVD, but the added context of having Greece inform the programs helps propel the film to new heights.
Featured in these 90 minutes are mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, whose voice is pitch-perfect and powerfully nuanced, and Wu Han, pianist and co-artistic director of the society. Together they offer a wonderful musical selection.
The instrumentalists consist of violinists Aaron Boyd, Sean Lee, Arnaud Sussmann and Danbi Um; viola players Matthew Lipman and Paul Neubauer; cellists Dmitri Atapine and David Finckel (co-artistic director); and flutist Tara Helen O’Connor.
The society, appearing in several different combinations, play in Greek venues both secular and sacred. They breathe life into works by Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Ravel and Mendelssohn, and there’s a selection from contemporary Greek-American composer George Tsontakis.
The highlight of the DVD (and accompanying CD recording) is the culmination of the journey, which is Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20, consisting of Allegro moderato ma con fuoc; Andante; Scherzo. Allegro leggierissimo; and Presto. The acoustics at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens are fitting for the eight musicians on that stage, and the camera and microphone work that is utilized to capture the sounds and visuals are complementary and exhilarating. As the piece speeds up, the editing follows suit. Closeups of finger work on the violins allow for a deep appreciation for the practiced precision of the players, and it’s actually revealing to see how the individual musicians respond to one another with facial expressions and gestures on their way to a beautiful finale.
The term “odyssey” can be used in so many ways to describe the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center — whether it’s their trip to Greece, the musical selections they play or the stunning vistas that are captured by Live From Lincoln Center’s cameras. When audiences check out these 90 minutes, they’ll be joining the odyssey much like the talented players who showcase their abundance of creative skills.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Odyssey: The Chamber Music Society in Greece, a presentation of Live From Lincoln Center on PBS, is now available on DVD. Click here for more information.
