Reza Vali, who was
born in Iran, will probably be a new
name to most readers. Vali is now based
in the USA and has been the recipient
of several prestigious awards and commissions.
The Concerto for
flute and orchestra (1998) is an
unusual and imaginative work, melodic
and extremely accessible. The first
movement is heavily oriental in atmosphere
with the flute being played with a technique
where the soloist alternates between
blowing and singing which is intended
to imitate the sound of a Persian bamboo
flute called the ney. In the
second movement the strange yet engaging
blend of Persian folk music and Western
music that at times was reminiscent
of works such as Bernard Herrmann’s
film score for Jason and the Argonauts,
Bernstein’s film score On the Town
and his musical West Side Story.
Vali’s Set No. 10
of four folk songs for soprano and orchestra
was composed in 1992 for soprano
and orchestra. The second and fourth
songs are based on authentic Persian
folk-melodies. The first and third songs
are quasi-folk songs with the third
song, Lament, In Memoriam Olivier
Messiaen being a funeral dirge in
memory of the great French composer.
This expressive song
cycle is perhaps more conventional than
both the Flute concerto and Deylámân
but is no less effective. With her
rich and colourful voice soprano Janna
Baty is well suited to these songs and
gives a characterful performance.
In two sections, the
exciting and moody Deylámân
for flute, oud and orchestra (1995),
is a fusion of Eastern exotica and North
American landscapes. The composer informs
the reader that the second section includes
short quotations from works by Beethoven,
Bruckner, Mahler and Wagner as well
as African and Latin-American folk-song.
The unique sounds of the Persian instruments
the ney and oud are never
far away.
I cannot give too much
commendation to the Boston Modern Orchestra
Project and Gil Rose for their exceptional
endeavours and special praise is warranted
for the playing of the self-taught flautist
Alberto Almarez and oud (barbat)
player George Mgrdichian.
These well played and
imaginative works are richly perfumed
with images of the middle-East and of
North American landscapes. If you want
something different to the usual fare
yet remaining approachable then this
release may be for you. Certainly worth
exploring!
Michael Cookson
Alberto Almarza (flute) 
