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Evgeni KOSTITSYN (contemporary) American Requiem I Osama Islam is Peace Sanctus Osama Islam is Peace Sanctus Large Symphony Orchestra/unidentified conductor(not shown on sleeve – could it be the composer?). recorded (no details on sleeve about location or dates). CDK 015 [50’04"]

This is one of the least interesting recordings it has been my misfortune to review. On the surface, the idea seems first class – an attempt to write a Requiem, which attempts to bring together Christianity, Islam and parochial America. The titles of the various sections of the disc are as follows: 1. Requiem (Vision by President Lincoln). 2. Sanctus (Islam is Peace) – excerpts from the Arab Committee. 3. Benedictus (Osama, Merry Ramadam) 4. Dies Irae (When Liberty Goes Out of a Place and Minute of Silence) 5. Numbers (Chapter Six). We then have three further tracks, presumably in case you did not hear them first time around, excerpts from Requiem 1 – Osama, Islam is Peace and Sanctus. On the face of it, not a bad idea to attempt to bring together these disparate parts into a unified whole especially as the vocal performances are so good. What for me totally negates the exercise is the utter banality of some of the musical material. It is all very well making it populist, so that it can be easily assimilated, but this is just utterly banal, and the record company should have applied the judgement that this just isn’t good enough for general release. Within this work there are smatterings of Orthodox flavoured chants (not too bad, except it degenerates into high pitched shouting), followed by poor trumpet playing with poor jazz band accompaniment very closely miked so it becomes oppressive need I go on? This is a great shame as the various soloists acquit themselves well, with strong, not unpleasant voices, with minimal obtrusive vibrato. The orchestra (nameless as is the conductor) also don’t do a bad job either). This only adds to the disappointment I had in reviewing this issue. I shall not be listening to this again – twice was more than enough! John Phillips Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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