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| Osvaldo Golijov: Ayre | 
 enlarge | Artists: Osvaldo Golijov, Dawn Upshaw, Luciano Berio, Folk Songs
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $10.48
You Save: $6.50 (38%)
Buy New/Used from $5.90
Avg. Customer Rating:  (14 reviews)
Sales Rank: 50428
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.3 x 4.9 x 0.5
MPN: 000478202
UPC: 028947754145
EAN: 0028947754145
ASIN: B000ASDG9E
Release Date: September 27, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Dawn, St. John's Day - Dawn Upshaw | | • | A Mother Roasted Her Child - Dawn Upshaw | | • | Walls Are Encircling The Land - Dawn Upshaw | | • | Moon - Dawn Upshaw | | • | Nani - Dawn Upshaw | | • | My Love - Dawn Upshaw | | • | My Eyes Weep - Dawn Upshaw | | • | Be A String, Water, To My Guitar - Dawn Upshaw | | • | Untie Your Ribbons - Dawn Upshaw | | • | O God, Where Shall I Find You? - Dawn Upshaw | | • | Ariadna In Her Labyrinth - Dawn Upshaw | | • | Black Is The Color - Gordon Gottlieb | | • | I Wonder As I Wander - Gordon Gottlieb | | • | Loosin Yelav - Gordon Gottlieb | | • | Rossignolet Du Bois - Gordon Gottlieb | | • | A La Femminisca - Gordon Gottlieb | | • | La Donna Ideale - Gordon Gottlieb | | • | Ballo - Gordon Gottlieb | | • | Motettu De Tristura - Gordon Gottlieb | | • | Malurous Qu'o Uno Fenno - Gordon Gottlieb | | • | Lo Fiolaire - Gordon Gottlieb | | • | Azerbaijan Love Song - Gordon Gottlieb |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
This is a fascinating CD, containing two song cycles--one brand new, by Osvaldo Golijov, and one dating from 1964, by Luciano Berio. Berios's is a setting of folk songs from several countries, including France, Italy, America, and Sardinia. Golijov's songs are in Spanish, but they cross Christian, Jewish, and Arab cultures. The Berio arrangements contain nicely odd harmonic cadences in the accompaniments. Dawn Upshaw sings them simply and directly, albeit in what might be called a traditional operatic, if low-keyed, fashion. Golijov's songs are strange, daring, and magnificent, in composition, accompaniment, rhythm, and vocal delivery. To be sure, Upshaw uses an operatic sound for much of the cycle, but she lets loose with some of the most remarkable yelps, hoots, and bellows to express the texts and situations as well. The songs vary: some are prayers, some folk songs, some lullabies. Golijov orchestrates with accordion, horn, laptop computer (electronica), flute, violin, viola, and more--and the sounds fit the words. He doesn't seem to care whether he's making music classical or popular: as a result he has created something unique. Fans of pop music will be as entranced by this as will those specializing in classical music. Try this--it's remarkable. --Robert Levine
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
Upshaw is incredible June 28, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I was present for a performance of Ayre in New York a couple of years ago. It's a song cycle drawing on several different cultural and historical traditions -- Christian, Muslim, Jewish and of course the composer's native South America. The performance was quite exhilirating. The music is mostly tuneful and the orchstration very interesting.
Still, I can't help wondering if this is the kind of music that will last. Will people still be listening to Ayre 100 years from now? I'm not sure. I hear geat talent and skill -- but do I hear genius? Again, I'm not convinced. Sometimes, I have the feeling of being manipulated. This music is very politically correct, especially the long lament for the Palestinians at the center of this work.
One thing is for sure: Dawn Upshaw is sensational. She molds her voice into a supremely flexible instrument, making it do all kinds of wonderful things.
I do recommend this recording. It's interesting and it asks good questions. But it's not quite great.
A Triumph! June 24, 2007
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
On June 4 2007 I went to a meeting at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Chicago Public Schools teachers were invited to brainstorm ideas to have our students working in the production of 'Ainadamar', an opera by Osvaldo Golijov, in cooperation with Albany Park Theatre Project (APTP). Osvaldo Golijov attended that meeting. Afterwards we were invited to stay to see Ayre. This is how I discovered Golijov.
By the second song I was completely blown away and almost in tears ... The music was so powerful, and the singing completely energetic and mesmerizing at the same time. Jewish music melted with Muslim influences and with a Spanish traditional touch here and there. The soprano Dawn Upshaw was brilliant, and so was the whole orchestra. I've never seen before a laptop computer mixed with an orchestra. And the orchestra itself was nothing conventional (Spanish guitar, accordion, flutes, oboes, violins, etc.). The composer himself presented the songs like a tribute to friendship. Also, he said it was a 'story on how the opressed became the opressors'. A very remarkable music experience that I strongly recommend. Not an easy listening, but definetely worth it!
The album contains two different pieces. Tracks 1-11 'Ayre' (2004) by Osvaldo Golijov (1960), which is the world premiere recording. Tracks 12-22 'Folk Songs' (1964) by Luciano Berio (1925-2003). The soprano Dawn Upshaw sings both of the pieces. I bought this CD because of 'Ayre' and this is what this is review is about. However, I also liked the folk songs by Berio and I give this CD 4 stars overall (4,5 for Ayre).
 Lucid and Dazzling September 28, 2006
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
Lucid and Dazzling. That's all there is to say. Lucid and dazzling.
Golijov takes a good hard long look at Berio's 'Folk Songs,' thinks about what he'd do differently, and does it. Ayre is one of the most creative collections of multi-lingual, international, inter-faith, inter-cultural mosaic to enter the musical word. It is motley and mixed. It has dark humor with wicked grins, sentimental sighs and long winding melodies that stay in your head for a day or two.
On seeing a live show of this about two weeks after the CD came out I cried and cried - because not only do we have such amazing and moving music in this piece, it is music that - in its mediterranean hodge-podge - gives us a reminder of how beautiful the world would be if we'd all sing with, instead of shoot at, each other.
And the Berio - well, I thought Berberian's recording from the 70's was it. But Dawn, well, she just gets certain subtleties and colors that Cathy couldn't. And Ms. Upshaw can growl, scream, laugh, mock, and dream just as good as Cathy could.
A good CD for fall. A great gift for those of extra-ecclectic taste. An even better musical intro for those that want to see/hear where (I hope) classical music is heading.
Not original? Ha! June 21, 2006
16 out of 22 found this review helpful
So, I ended up buying this album not for the main piece, Golijov's Ayre but for Upshaw's version of Berio's Folksongs. In fact, in the length of time I've had this disc, which has been a couple of months, at least, I never even once attempted listening to Golijov's piece. The truth of the matter was, I kept telling myself I didn't like Goljov - which was silly and contradictory of me since I've always enjoyed Golijov's The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind. In fact, because I knew I enjoyed Isaac The Blind, I investigated whether or not I'd enjoy Golijov's newly released opera, Ainadamar. After listening to some 30 second samples from Amazon.com, I must admit that I wasn't impressed with what I heard. I also investigated his La Pasion Segun San Marcos only to arrive at the opinion that it, too, was lacking in very many ways. I immediately figured that aside from Isaac the Blind, Golijov's other material seemed bland, unempathetic and largely undeveloped - almost as if he were in a hurry to be prolific!
Well, needless to say, my opinion of him immediately changed when I finally decided to listen to Ayre. From the very first note, I realized it was Golijov from my familiarity with Isaac the Blind and I was instantaneously drawn in. The rhythm was exotic, casual, and yet refined, and the harmony transported me away from 21st century America into a wholly other multi-cultural dimension. The introduction holds you in suspense, awaiting what's next, and then gradually shifts into mode encompassed by Jewish and Arabesque tones and colors. Upshaw's singing is so evocative and pronounced that, just like in her performance of Gorecki's "Symphony No. 3," she doesn't spare any emotion in her performance. Her voice alone adds so much texture to these songs!
The song cycle ranges from the beautiful to the absurd, at times, with Upshaw's singing leading the way. And while the music itself often appears to move from place to place, never seeming to touch the same place twice, there is actually so much cohsiveness between each song that it's impossible not to realize these songs rely upon each other for their strength and viability just like any other architectural composition.
Some people harangue Golijov for being a popular living composer, often berating him with fallible characterizations. Some even claim he isn't original and is only recycling what's come before in order to put himself among the ranks of Mozart, Mahler, and Shostakovich. As one reviewer belows states, Golijov is considered the Brittany Spears of classical. Far from it, as I see it! Golijov's music is no less original than many other composers, including Mozart himself. In fact, it's truly quite difficult to find any composer, living or dead, who was not inspired or did not find their cue from music that preceded them. Golijov may take certain themes borrowed from previous composers (such as composing a song cycle based on Berio's Folksongs) and incorporate those themes into the larger scheme, but such inspiration is no different than the countless composed renditions of "Variations on a Theme by Paganini."
Don't let overly traditionalist music-lovers stray you away from this release! It's truly what your heart, soul, and ears have been searching for!
Upshaw is a true artist April 23, 2006
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
I must first say that I have the highest admiration for Dawn Upshaw. Here is an artist, a wonderful singer, who is willing to explore music as varied as can be imagined. From Bach to Schubert to Debussy to Golijov and Saariaho, she illuminates it all with her beautiful voice. She is a true artist and a courageous one, (witness the hostility in some of the reviews here.)
I feel that Golijov is a very important contemporary composer, and this work, with its varied ethnicity and moods is a fascinating journey. To me the second half of the album, folk songs of Luciano Berio, while interesting, is nowhere near as powerful as Golijov piece.
The instrumental group Andalucian Dogs are superb. They accompany Upshaw with boundless energy and virtuosity.
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