David Garrett - Virtuoso
List Price:
Our Price: $15.86
You Save: $34.13 (68%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $14.40 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: David GarrettEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 2008-03-25
Music Label: Indie Europe/Zoom
Soundtracks:
- La Califfa
- Carmen Fantasies, for various combinations (arranged by various compose
- Nothing Else Matters, song
- Csárdás, for violin & orchestra
- Duelin' Banjos (Feuding Banjos)
- Canon in D major, instrumental arrangement
- Caprice for solo violin in A minor (Theme & Variations), Op. 1/24, MS 2
- Somewhere, song (from "West Side Story")
- The Flight of the Bumble Bee, musical picture for orchestra (from The Tale
- Serenade, for violin
- Toccata, for violin
- You Raise Me Up, song
- Eliza's Song, for violin
- Csárdás, for violin & orchestra [The Ganas Mix]
Music reviews of Virtuoso
Music Review: I prefer this to 2009's "David Garrett" North American release
Rating: 5 Stars
I first heard of violin prodigy David Garrett in a Barnes and Noble in-store play, and picked up his eponymous (US) debut David Garrett. However, I felt that the North American version, which was cobbled together from 2007's "Virtuoso" and 2008's "Encore," was a tad short. I went searching for other Garrett recordings only to discover that they're only available as super-expensive imports. After comparing tracklistings on Free, Virtuoso and Encore, I decided on the version of Virtuoso that has Pachelbel's Canon in D (the other pressing does not). Many of the tracks are also on "David Garrett" (Carmen, Nothing Else Matters, Csardas, Duelling Banjos), but there are other superb additions such as Morricone's "La Califfa," Paganini's Rhapsody (best known from Andrew Lloyd Webber's divine Variations), Bernstein's "Somewhere," Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" (for which David set a Guinness World Record for fastest performance on live TV at 66 seconds, or 13 notes per second), Secret Garden's "You Raise Me Up" (check out the stunning original by Irish singer Brian Kennedy, NOT Josh Groban, on You Raise Me Up), and three original compositions, "Serenade," "Toccata," and "Eliza's Song."
Opening with La Califfa (of which Sarah Brightman did a stunning cover of on La Luna), there is much more of a classical crossover vibe on Virtuoso rather than a rock feel per the North American update (which featured AC/DC, Metallica, Queen and Michael Jackson). The next four tracks are the same versions on "David Garrett"; Csardas is particularly good and brings to mind Brahms' Hungarian Dance Number 5 (the bonus track is a chillout version of Csardas that's got a Nuevo Flamenco vibe in the last third of the song). "Pachelbel's Canon" is a pleasing update on this Baroque gem that manages to be traditional and modern at the same time; the intro stays fairly close to the score, then David gently and deftly takes the song into new directions (if you like Christmas Canon, you'll love David's cover or vice versa).
"Paganini's Rhapsody" was an interesting experiment. I grew up listening to Julian Lloyd Webber's version of Variations - Variations I-IV and it was a treat to hear this on violin (David's full version, recorded when he was a teenager, is available at Paganini: Caprices). Again, David sticks to the score for the first few measures, then branches out. There's some interesting use of acoustic guitar providing a forceful strummed bassline and percussion (tambourine, xylophone, bells). This one is technically challenging and gorgeous; it almost sounds like the score to Danny Elfman's Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in places.
"The Flight of the Bumblebee" is also played at breakneck speed (1:20), showcasing David's technical prowess at super-fast fingering yet maintaining clarity of tone. The original tracks "Serenade" and "Eliza's Song" are soft and romantic in a bittersweet way (according to the liner notes, "Serenade" was inspired by unrequited love on David's part). The hard-rocking "Toccata" sounds like Bach on Red Bull with an espresso chaser. This one must be impressive in concert...I can picture strobe lights flashing to the driving melody and electric guitar riffs. "You Raise Me Up" takes Virtuoso back into calmer waters (I would LOVE to hear David record/perform this with Brian Kennedy on vocals...that would be a dream team), finishing up with "Eliza's Song." The bonus mix of Csardas is almost identical to the album version except for the last minute or so.
So is "Virtuoso" worth the hefty import price? After all, it costs many times more than David's North American debut. For me, I found "Virtuoso" to be more rewarding as I appreciated the classical covers more. The tracks seemed stronger overall, and I really enjoyed "Canon," "Paganini's Rhapsody," and "Flight of the Bumblebee." If you're a rock fan, you'll likely find David Garrett more rewarding, as it features covers of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal," AC/DC's "Thunderstruck," the "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme, and Queen's "Who Wants to Live Forever?" At any rate, David is an immensely talented violinist and composer who deserves to be heard.
Description of Virtuoso
Part maverick, part genius, total virtuoso, David Garrett, 25, has been surprising people since before he was four years old. It was then that his father gave him a violin (he was having a tantrum because his older brother had a violin teacher) and, without any lessons, the toddler picked it up and began playing. Fast forward just four years and David was already one of the foremost violinists in the world working with the most celebrated teachers and performing solos with legendary orchestras and conductors. With his natural talent, the input of the finest music teachers in the world and a spirit unusual in the sometimes fusty world of classical music, David has emerged as fully-formed, fully-rounded - not to mention highly attractive - artist. He has already played for Popes and princes and presidents (the German President saw David when he was just 11 and was so impressed he actually set about securing him a priceless 1718 Stradivarius: "I used to leave violins on buses and in hotel rooms when I was younger, but not this one") but a whole new audience awaits.Classic Rock CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Classic Rock CDs
Paul Mccartney, Wings - Wings at the Speed of SoundRelease date: 1996-09-24; Music CD
Best price: $269.99
Small Faces - BoxedRelease date: 1997-11-01; Music CD
Best price: $43.38
Dr John - Gris GrisRelease date: 1994-07-15; Music CD
Price in other shops:
![Eric Clapton: Live in Hyde Park [VHS] Image](/images/Eric-Clapton-Live-in-Hyde-Park-VHS-6304817037-X.jpg){kind=small}
Eric Clapton: Live in Hyde Park [VHS]Warner Bros / Wea; Release date: 1998-02-17; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.75
Price in other shops:
![Human Highway [VHS] Image](/images/Human-Highway-VHS-6303589219-X.jpg){kind=small}
Human Highway [VHS]Warner Bros / Wea; Release date: 1995-08-08; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $120.79
![The Monkees - Head [VHS] Image](/images/The-Monkees-Head-VHS-6303337023-X.jpg){kind=small}
The Monkees - Head [VHS]Rhino / Wea; Release date: 1995-01-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.42
Price in other shops:
![Live & Loud [VHS] Image](/images/Live-Loud-VHS-630276193X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Ozzy Osbourne - Live & Loud [VHS]Sony; Release date: 1993-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $3.96
Price in other shops:
![Unplugged [VHS] Image](/images/Unplugged-VHS-6302639859-X.jpg){kind=small}
Bruce Springsteen - Unplugged [VHS]Sony; Release date: 1992-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops:
![Peter Gabriel - P.O.V. [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel - P.O.V. [VHS]Virgin Records Us; Release date: 1992-06-29; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $121.90
![Past to Present [VHS] Image](/images/Past-to-Present-VHS-6301817664-X.jpg){kind=small}
Toto - Past to Present [VHS]Sony; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $72.82
Similar CDs
2Cellos (Sulic & Hauser) - 2CellosRelease date: 2011-07-19; Music CD
Best price: $6.90
Price in other shops:
David Garrett - LegacyPublished: 2012-03-20; DVD
Best price: $21.44
Paganini: CapricesRelease date: 2008-09-09; Music CD
Best price: $5.05
Price in other shops:
David Garrett - Pure ClassicsRelease date: 2008-03-03; Music CD
Best price: $8.92
Price in other shops:
David Garrett: Rock SymphoniesRelease date: 2011-04-05; DVD
Best price: $15.69
Price in other shops:
David Garrett - FreeGARRETT,DAVID; Release date: 2007-03-05; Music CD
Best price: $11.33
Price in other shops:
David Garrett - Classic RomanceRelease date: 2009-11-24; Music CD
Best price: $29.99
Price in other shops:
David Garrett - LegacyRelease date: 2012-06-05; Music CD
Best price: $10.99
David Garrett - Rock SymphoniesRelease date: 2010-07-20; Music CD
Best price: $3.50
Price in other shops:
David Garrett - David GarrettGarrett; Release date: 2009-06-02; Music CD
Best price: $8.39
Price in other shops: