Gypsy

Beautiful, creative, and well put-together. Lara St. John is daring enough to take a piece and make it sound like an improvisation. Her expression is right on, not holding anything back. The Carman fantasy is a bit overdone, but forgivably. Once you're past that, things are very fine. The Czardas Caprice is especially great. Unfortunately, she couldn't have made a bigger fool of herself on the cover if she had dressed like Yenta the matchmaker. Would have done much better to use one of the inside pictures on the front. Too bad Ilan Rechtman can't play quite up to her speed. But throw out the jacket and you've got a great gypsy/slavic album.

This CD left me speechless. I have never, ever heard the Bizet Carmen Fantasy played with such excitement, passion and virtuosity before. It makes Maxim Vengerov's recording of it look trivial. Somehow, Lara St. John manages to play like a gypsy. Here's what I reccomend: Ignore the cover;her music is worth it. Bravo, Lara St. John! I would like to hear her playing the Bartok Rumanian Dances next!

This is a fantastic record, a legendary record, and you have to hear it for yourself. Nowhere before Lara St. John have I heard such passion, such dazzling technique, and such depth of interpretation in these pieces. Nobody else - Perlman, Rosand, Sarah Chang -- even comes close. This is a performer that is a born Gypsy, a born entertainer, and, at the same time, a truly profound musician.

On this record, she is joined by Ilan Rechtman, who is a well-matched accomplice, and a super-witty arranger.

I love this record!