Divine Art Records

Catalogue Connection: 25229

  • Heritage (DDA 25229) – The Chronicle Review Corner

    While violinist Aisha Syed Castro “may well be one of the most remarkably gifted musicians to come from the Dominican Republic” as the sleeve notes say, this is not an album that requires deep analysis.

    Castro has gathered together a programme of pieces that have special meaning for her, from Spanish, Latin or American sources, and the whole is entertaining.

    The album opens with a storming performance of West Side Story’s lively America, with I Feel Pretty and Somewhere from the same musical later on the album. A work by the Dominican maestro Rafael Solano follows the opener, more romantic and thoughtful, the energy from the opening piece leaving the listener on a bit of a high and ready to accept whatever Castro plays.

    Across the album some pieces sound familiar, Spanish Dance No.5 (Granados, arranged Kreisler) because it’s of a type, Scheherazade Danse Orientale (Rimsky-Korsakov) because it is [familiar]. The closer is a special piece, pianist Martin Labazevitch arranging a medley of hymns that are dear to Castro, including Amazing Grace.

    Strong and powerful playing from Castro, a fun album for the listener.

  • Heritage (DDA 25229) The Whole Note review

    Heritage is the debut CD [for Divine Art] by the young Dominican violinist Aisha Syed Castro, with pianist Martin Labazevitch. 
     
    Recorded in England in April 2019, it’s an album of works with primarily American and Latino roots, including Una Primavera para el Mundo by the Dominican composer Rafael Solano in his own arrangement made specifically for this recording. There are three numbers from Bernstein’s West Side Story, tangos by Piazzolla (Oblivion), Carlos Gardel (Por Una Cabeza) and Albéniz (España Op.165 No.2), the latter arranged by Kreisler, who also arranged the Granados Spanish Dance No.5 and the Danse Orientale from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherezade.
     
    William Grant Still’s Suite for Violin and Piano, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Deep River and Aisha’s Dance from Khachaturian’s Gayaneh ballet fill out a captivating program that ends with Aisha’s Prayer, Labazevitch’s arrangement of traditional hymns built around Amazing Grace.
     
    The signing of Castro and the launch of this CD were announced with great fanfare, and it’s easy to hear just why Divine Arts is so excited. She’s clearly a talent to watch. for Divine art
  • Heritage

    Heritage

    Violinist Aisha Syed Castro (b.1989) may well be one of the most remarkably gifted musicians to come from the Dominican Republic and the team at Divine Art are tremendously excited to have signed this young virtuoso for an album of works with principally American and Latin roots. She has been described as a ’virtuoso’ by the press on three continents, and has not only engaged in a busy and highly successful performing career but is tireless in her work for the underprivileged. Aisha is the Honorary Cultural Goodwill Ambassador of the Dominican Republic and works devotedly through charitable ventures (some of which she founded) to bring classical music to the underprivileged and socially disadvantaged.

    In her new album, Aisha has brought together a program of works that have special meaning for her, from Spanish/ Latin/ American sources, including extracts from ‘West Side Story’, works by the Dominican maestro Rafael Solano, music from black composers Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and William Grant Still, and well-known little masterpieces by Piazzolla, Granados and Albeníz. A special piece for the artist is ‘Aisha’s Dance’ from Khachaturian’s Gayaneh ballet, which she has played since she was 15. This recording was made in April 2019 in England and is a sparkling and exotic program of masterworks.

    Aisha’s musical partner here is pianist Martin Labazevitch who also arranged the closing track, a medley of hymns dear to Aisha including a beautiful rendering of the timeless ‘Amazing Grace’. Martin is a Steinway artist who has attracted rave reviews around the world for his lyricism and intensity of performance.