Sofia Gubaidulina's The Deceitful Face of Hope and of Despair (2005) is stark, existential music, a weighty flute concerto cast in one continuous movement that lasts close to a half hour, and which challenges the emotions of the listener almost as much as it taxes the endurance of the soloist. If the title -- drawn from T.S. Eliot's penitential poem, "Ash Wednesday" -- suggests an agonized, spiritual struggle, then the music goes even further with its sparseness, darkness, and dryness to convey what may be some of the ...
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Sofia Gubaidulina's The Deceitful Face of Hope and of Despair (2005) is stark, existential music, a weighty flute concerto cast in one continuous movement that lasts close to a half hour, and which challenges the emotions of the listener almost as much as it taxes the endurance of the soloist. If the title -- drawn from T.S. Eliot's penitential poem, "Ash Wednesday" -- suggests an agonized, spiritual struggle, then the music goes even further with its sparseness, darkness, and dryness to convey what may be some of the bleakest expressions and grayest colors since Shostakovich's late, requiem-like works. Its long solo part has a defenseless, desperate quality, and it is delivered here with honesty and vulnerability by flutist Sharon Bezaly, the dedicatee and recipient of the concerto; her affecting playing is devastating, especially when pitted against the calamitous forces of the closing measures. Sieben Worte (Seven Words) for cello, bayan, and strings (1982) is another grim composition that explores...
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Add this copy of Deceitful Face of Hope & Despair to cart. $11.90, very good condition, Sold by Bound Matter rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Aurora, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2006 by BIS.
