Customer Rating: 
Summary: Ugh!
Comment: I'm a big fan of the Atlanta Symphony and Robert Spano. I also like Dawn Upshaw. And I've heard so much about Golijov that I had to find out what all the hype was about. Sadly, it was just hype. The title work, "Oceana," is an embarrassingly contrived bit of Spanish lounge music with an orchestra and chorus in tow. It's never harmonically interesting unless it's slow and quiet, but that's just not enough to warrant half an hour of tedious listening. "Tenebrae" is better, but not an interesting departure from better works of the kind by Part, Gorecki, Vasks, and Takemitsu. The "Three Songs" are the highlight, but hardly worth the cost of the disc. Finally, some real music!
In short, Golijov is just the flavor of the moment that people will politely applaud and then delight when his fifteen minutes are over. If you like the Atlanta Symphony, Robert Spano and modern music, I suggest Jennifer Higdon's "Concerto for Orchestra" as an excellent choice for real, interesting, soulful music and actual skill writing for orchestra.
Customer Rating: Summary: Derivative pastiche
Comment: Golijov is all the rage nowadays. Hailed by the New Yorker and the New York Times as the next big thing in classical music, he has all the right credentials to appeal to our politically-correct aesthetic. He's Argentinian, Jewish and American all at the same time. We love the idea of mixed cultural influences, I suppose because it satisfies our liberal longing for a world where everyone gets along just fine.
I have enjoyed other Golijov productions, although I doubt his ultimate talent. He's not up there with the greats. In this collection, I realized that he is a superb collector of other peoples' themes and inspirations -- rather than a bone fide creator of his own. There is one movement, superbly sung by Dawn Upshaw, where the setting is just lovely. That's where Golijov excels. But the theme is somebody else's.
The first movement with choir and guitars was just tedious. The string quartet section was better but I'd heard it before, or something remarkably similar, on many other Kronos Quartet recordings.
If Golijov is really a composer rather than an arranger, I'd like to see him compose.
Customer Rating: Summary: Anyone notice the cover image?
Comment: If you're curious, the cover image for this DG release is recycled from Bill Evans and Jim Hall's 1962 'Undercurrent' album.
Customer Rating: Summary: The songs are the key.
Comment: I was very curious about this cd and almost picked it up in a store. I decided to check it out online (where I purchased it after streaming a bit) instead. The main offering ('Oceana') was immediately forgettable. It had some interesting sounds but nothing that sticks with you. I still sometimes will play it as something to have on, as some of the rhythms are fun. The main piece is followed up with Kronos Quartet playing a two movement quartet entitled 'Tenebrae'. Initially I was really drawn to this piece. I still like it very much. Its slow and sombre. Not for every mood, but skillfully played and recorded. The three songs, as sung by Dawn Upshaw, are what really shine here. Especially the third one.
In closing I would recomend this cd, so long as you understand it is a mixed offering.
Customer Rating: Summary: Gorgeous Embracing Experience
Comment: This is a gorgeous experience, musically, poetically. There is the presence of a great artist -- working with exceptional vocal and instrumental artists and deriving word/image focus from passionate tender rough vibrant poetry and song - that embraced me in a transcendent yet life affirming experience. The roots and yearnings of a people in their culture, their land, their oceans, their traditions, their generations, made personal - speak through. The fine abstract elements create a new universe in which to experience what is essential, unalloyed, rich. I am with this body of work as if it were a great living love in my life. In truth, it is.
Osvaldo Golijov: Oceana
