- Richard Danielpour
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra: “A Fool’s Paradise” (1999)
- Associated Music Publishers Inc (World)
- 3(pic).3(ca).3(bcl).3/4331/timp.4perc/pf.hp/str (min.12.10.8.8.6)
- Violin
- 30 min
Scores
Reviews
[Danielpour] is a composer with an urgency to communicate. He uses tonality like a collage artist; different events exist in contrasting keys, but with a sharply delineated, entrancing clarity. Danielpour's pulsing intensity prompts symbiotic interactions with a beguiling range of meaning. There [is] mystery and ambiguity in the lyricism granted to the violin soloist, unfolding at an unhurried pace. It was pure inspiration directed at the creation of music for its own sake — and Danielpour at his best.
The Philadelphia Orchestra [gave the] world premiere of Danielpour’s new concerto A Fool’s Paradise. At the outset, the orchestra seems to rise up out of the misty ground in some strange, faraway place and the violin soloist enters, playing warmly in the lower register. But the work is soon off and running, with lots of percussive orchestral movement and the soloist completely involved in fast-moving technical passages. As it progresses, the first movement alternates percussiveness and sweetness in a very colorful way.
The second movement opened with beautifully performed, dreamy melodies played by the woodwinds, with the violin continuing a poignant singing over the orchestra. Danielpour resisted the temptation to throw some razzle-dazzle solo passages into this movement. The composer keeps things interesting with his unique orchestral colors and subtle shifts in tonality.
The third movement kicks off with firecracker spiccato passage from the soloist and [continues with] a crackling orchestral accompaniment.