Vanessa-Mae

a look at the music of Vangelis Papathanassiou

Introduction
Vanessa-Mae is known to many as the young girl who in 1995 managed to reach a world-wide audience playing her violin. With her break-through album "The Violin Player" she successfully establishes a name for herself, in both the classical and pop world. Although not uncriticised by purists for her popular renditions of traditional classical compositions (that sounds familiar...) Vanessa-Mae has evolved from a child prodigy to an awarded world star in the last decade. She claims: "the violin is versatile if the violinist is versatile, and I therefore stand to my conviction that both my classical and contemporary careers should go side by side".

With this in mind it is not surprisingly to hear Vanessa-Mae performing one of Vangelis' compositions. The piece "Roxane's Veil" as included on Vanessa-Mae's album "Choreography" is Vangelis' contribution to an album inspired by dance rhythms from cultures around the world. Interestingly, the track will also appear on Vangelis' forthcoming original soundtrack album for Oliver Stone's "Alexander". The name "Roxane" is in fact a reference to the wife of Alexander the Great.

"Choreography" is Vanessa-Mae's first album for Sony Classical. The front cover (as shown on the right) shows Vanessa-Mae holding up her Guadagnini violin above her head.

Tracklist and Credits

  1. Sabre Dance
  2. Roxane's Veil
  3. Bolero for Violin and Orchestra
  4. Tango de Los Exilados
  5. The Havana Slide
  6. Emerald Tiger
  7. Tribal Gathering
  8. Raga's Dance
  9. Moroccan Roll
  10. Handel's Minuet

"Roxane's Veil" composed, arranged and produced by Vangelis. Performed by Vangelis with Vanessa-Mae. Vocals by Konstantinos Paliatsaras and Irina Valentinova-Karpouchina.

Discography

CD
2004 Sony Classical SK 90895 Europe, Singapore, South-Korea
2004 Sony Classical SAMPCD 14162 2 Austria (advance CD)
2004 Sony Classical 5-track sampler UK (promotional CDR)
2004 Sony Classical XPCD2979 5-track sampler UK (promotional CD)

 

Recording Studio
Recorded at Sarm Studios, CBS Whitfield, Metropolis Studios and Abbey Road Studios.

 

 

 

 

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