David Garrett - Legacy: Live in Baden-Baden (2011) [Re-Up]

Many of us, who are fans of this breathtaking musical genius, have come to appreciate his phenomenal interpretation of modern and pop song classics, which beside being fun and cool, provides a window into his own uniquely personal style.

With that in mind, when you have a full concert, of him playing some of the greatest classical music ever written, it helps in recognizing that style, within the structure of music that's been played for generations, such as Beethoven, and Bach.. familiar pieces that we've heard hundreds of times, ourselves, but, new life is endowed into these immortal masterpieces through David.

What is most remarkable, for me, in 'Legacy' and about David's choice of pieces, is that he chose works of the masters, as they are interpreted by the next generations of other masters, such as Rachmaninoff's interpretation of Paganini, performed by him 80 years ago, and now played by this generation's master of the classical world.

David Garrett, is up there adding to the LEGACY.

Even more profound, is the acknowledgement of how he was mentored and taught by the greatest violinists of our time, like Isaac Stern, and Itsak Perlman, to name a few, so, there is this feeling of mystical growth, between classical masters, who each mentored, reinterpreted and passed the original flame.

It is this synergy between them all, from the original composer, to the ensuing generations, which makes these well known pieces, modern and ancient at the same time.

In the Rachmaninoff piece, for instance, it's obvious that based on his style, and how his pieces are usually structured around piano, Paganini, is interpreted through this additional aspect. Then David interprets the piece, with the piano still prominant, but, not featured, like nodding back to Paganini's original composition.

David infuses this new spark, and the synergy explodes in hearing some of these works, as if for the first time, and the recognition and awe of how progressive musicians contributed and built on the original foundation. .

I can't really describe it the way I want, because, this music is understood on an almost spiritual level, more than an intellectual one. But, it's like these dead composers had a presence, and with David's own prodigious tutors, the greatest violinists of the 20th Century, all of them were clearly heard in the final pieces..

Some may be disappointed by this concert, because, it lacks bells and whistles, pyrotechnics, more like rockstar, but, if you close your eyes, and open your mind, you can behold, in your mind's eye, and your mind's ear, this phenomenon stand on the stage, with the phantoms of the greatest composers and musicians who ever lived, up there with him.

He gets a well deserved five stars. He gets a sixth star because he is gorgeous and very easy, almost mesmerizing to watch for an hour. He modeled while in NYC attending Julliard. This guy's got it all, but, he's worked hard for this gift, since he was a small boy. He's not just another pretty face.

Review by ShellyB, Amazon.com