Customer Ratings & Reviews

From the opening notes of “Provenance,” it’s impossible not to find oneself transported from mundane reality to a time and place of spiritual calm and rejuvenation. Cellist Maya Beiser, whose career path is as unpredictable as it is artistically rewarding, explores Spain’s centuries-old musical traditions in works by several contemporary composers on this, her latest and most accessible recording. Beiser was raised in Israel, so her interest in Middle Eastern music is no surprise. Several of the composers invited to participate in this project hail from Iran, Israel and Armenia; their compositions tap into ancient musical forms while retaining a distinct contemporary attitude. Each piece leads seamlessly into the next, creating a rich musical tapestry of melody, emotion and drama in which Beiser’s cello is the dominant voice. Her haunting and soulful playing is deftly supported by appropriately minimalist accompaniment: oud, percussion and voice. The disc’s final track, Led Zeppelin’s classic “Kashmir,” might seem an odd inclusion until one realizes that it incorporates classical Moroccan, Indian and Middle Eastern musical motifs. Beiser’s stunning interpretation highlights these elements while also relating the emotion in the song to the tracks that precede it. “Provenance” is yet another triumph for the virtuoso cellist who is helping to redefine the limits and the capabilities of modern classical music. Easily my favorite disc of 2010.

I love the cello. And there is no one who can play it more beautifully than "Cello Goddess" Maya Beiser. She is amazing; versatile, virtuosic and expressive. With her warm and enticing sound she always takes you on an unexpected journey. I bought the disc as soon as it was available. I think it's her best. The combination of the cello with the ancient arabic Ud, hand drum percussion and the overlaying of her cello, creates a compelling and irresistible album.