BASSOON
BRASILEIRO
HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS & FRANCISCO
MIGNONE
FRANK MORELLI BASSOON
ORPHEUS
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
BENJAMIN
VERDERY GUITAR
MS1110 ~ $14.95
"Recommended
to bassoonists? Yes, thanks to the repertoire, to Morelli's tone and technique,
and to MSR's really fine recorded sound. Recommendable beyond that? Yes again,
because the music is good, heartwarming Brazilian fodder, and the orchestra is
still sharp. [Morelli] shows superb legato control..low notes are smooth, full
and fruity. The midrange sings..."
FANFARE - May/June 2005
"...an
embarassment of riches...Mr. Morelli has already established himself as one of
the great American bassoonists - and [this] new recording only solidifies his
reputation...gorgeous tone throughout...he breezes through the technical
difficulties with flair...The strings of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra play with
a lush sound... The sound quality of the recording is excellent."
THE
DOUBLE REED, WINTER 2005
"The
bassoon playing in this recording is as good as it gets. Morelli’s sound is
the consummation of stability, Flexibility and sensuality. This is the best
engineered recording for a solo instrument…that I’ve reviewed. The balance
between Morelli and the orchestra should be a benchmark for future
recordings."
AMERICAN RECORD
GUIDE, JANUARY FEBRUARY 2005
"Frank
Morelli…brings out [the] lyrical nature very pleasingly, and his tone is plush
yet still characteristically reedy…[his] playing is a joy to hear."
GRAMOPHONE, JANUARY 2005
"Bassoonist
Frank Morelli presents his instrument in its most expressively romantic light. The sonics, produced and engineered by Gregory K. Squires, capture the
rich timbre and nuance of the instrument to perfection."
ATLANTA
AUDIO SOCIETY, NOVEMBER 2004
Introduced
to the bassoon while in public school, Frank
Morelli studied
at the Manhattan and Juilliard Schools of
Music, and was the first bassoonist to be awarded a doctorate by Juilliard. He
has more than 140 recordings for major labels to his credit, including an
acclaimed Mozart Bassoon Concerto on Deutsche Grammophon and "Shadow Dances"
which won a 2001 Grammy. Morelli has made eight appearances as a soloist in
Carnegie Hall and has appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
on numerous occasions, including at the Whitehouse for the final state dinner of
the Clinton presidency. A member of the renowned quintet, Windscape, he also serves on the
faculties of the Juilliard, Yale and SUNY Stony Brook, and is principal bassoonist of the
New York City Opera Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the American
Composers Orchestra.
Recognized
internationally as one of the world's great orchestras, the Orpheus
Chamber Orchestra has
been thrilling music lovers on four continents in a profoundly unique manner for
more than 30 years. Comprised of exceptional musicians, Orpheus members bring
their chamber music expertise to the orchestra setting, sharing leadership roles
while rehearsing, performing and recording. This deep personal artistic
commitment eliminates any barrier between the listener and the music. In
addition to the critical acclaim for Orpheus' live appearances are numerous
distinctions and awards, including a 2001 Grammy for "Shadow Dances:
Stravinsky Miniatures," several Grammy nominations and Musical America's
1998 "Ensemble of the Year" award.
