Nico Cartosio, Christmas On The Moon Review
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Neo-romantic music incorporates elements from the era of Romanticism and composers who reject, abandon and/or oppose realism, naturalism or avant-garde modernism. What does that sound like? Classical music that is melodic, adventurous in both harmony and melodies, but above all, music that is designed to imitate a high emotional event and/or feeling. One such Neo-romantic composer is Nico Cartosio. Cartosio interacts and hears the world in this manner naturally. He explains, “I do not know where it comes from. Perhaps as a child, I often hit my head when I fell, or maybe I participated in too many fights as a teenager. Since I was a child, I feel people and places in the form of melodies. A girl smiles at me, and I hear how she sounds. It is a specific tune. She frowns and instantaneously, the melody changes in my head, from a flute solo to a cello. Or a young man runs down the street, screaming at someone. I feel his energy, take it as music, and immediately hear the melody in my head.” Cartosio has a new composition out for Christmas titled, “Christmas On The Moon.”
Positives:
A wonderfully orchestrated composition that flows from light subtly to full power. Cartosio’s melodic flow is astonishing in its emotionalism and beauty.
Bottom Line:
“Christmas On The Moon” flips the tradition of uplifting Christmas music on its head and presents the listener with a nuanced take on the ‘most wonderful time of the year.’ In true Neo-Romanticism style, Cartosio’s new single is an emotional composition, driven by tender piano chords and melodies that interact with the vulnerable violin across dramatic swells and subtle pastels of melancholic, melodic phrases and motifs. Cartosio comments, “Christmas is such a joyous time. But haven't you ever happened to feel unbearably sad on this night? I believe those who are alone this Christmas would understand me.” “Christmas On The Moon” features a world-renowned orchestra conductor Gavin Greenaway. The main melody is performed by famed chamber violinist John Mills, who is the co-leader of the English Chamber Orchestra, and for the past 10 years has been the leader of the highly acclaimed Tippett Quartet. Outstanding compositional control and orchestration conveys the emotional impact that Cartosio hears, bringing to life in a pristinely recorded track that will make you feel. What? That is up to your heart and imagination, but you will feel something, and that’s the short of it!