(click on the image to get a readable Hebrew article)
CD reviewPROFESSIONAL AND EXCITING -- BUT NO SURPRISES
Masada is an emotional experience and performances of Davis Gaines as Eleazar Ben-Yair and Christina Safran (who joined Gaines in Phantom of the Opera ) as Hanna - climbs to pinnacle of emotions. Levy is one who has learned well the basis for musicals. Together with the orchestrator, Udi Harpaz, who has created a first class professional work, they reach the pinnacle of this melodrama in such scenes as "My Jerusalem” which brings an end to the first act of the story. The combination of choruses is completely professional and very effective. Though the compositions and the orchestrations deserve high grades, one cannot find in Masada any Jewish elements that will make him stand out from those with which we are already familiar. That is probably the "destiny" of any heroic, historic saga -- to become a musical clichesé upon arrival on Broadway or London’s West End. Masada is not a "Jewish rock opera." It is, rather, a dramatic musical full of an almost saccharine sweetness, which is well composed, and wonderfully sung and orchestrated. |
This double-CD is based on cliches of the what musical style is perceived to be. Especially noticeable is
the Andrew Lloyd-Webber influence (the composer of Jesus Christ, Superstar and Phantom of the Opera).
Shuki Levy, Masada composer, took from Webber the "classical colors" of the music more than the lighter
elements found in the rock, pop and soul music genres. The outcome is a melodic piece, well
orchestrated, full of excitement but without surprises.