Smile

1	Smile (as used in the fil
2	Spiegel im Spiegel, for v
3	Introducción al ángel, ta
4	Milonga en ré, tango for
5	Fantasie, for violin & pi
6	Fantasia for violin & pia
7	Fantasia for violin & pia
8	Fantasia for violin & pia
9	Fantasia for violin & pia
10	Haru No Umi (Ocean in Spr
11	Kojo No Tsuki (Moon over
12	Somewhere Over the Rainbo
Smile
1.	Smile (as used in the film "Modern Times" ) (spurious; by Geoffrey Persons) 3:22
	Composed by Charlie Chaplin
	Performed by Anne Akiko Meyers and Akira Eguchi
2.	Spiegel im Spiegel, for violin & piano 7:08
	Composed by Arvo Pärt
	Performed by Anne Akiko Meyers and Akira Eguchi
3.	Introducción al ángel, tango (from tango cycle, El ángel) 4:38
	Composed by Astor Piazzolla
	Performed by Anne Akiko Meyers and Akira Eguchi
4.	Milonga en ré, tango for violin (or cello) & piano 3:42
	Composed by Astor Piazzolla
	Performed by Anne Akiko Meyers and Akira Eguchi
5.	Fantasie, for violin & piano, II/12 7:47
	Composed by Olivier Messiaen
	Performed by Anne Akiko Meyers and Akira Eguchi
6.	Fantasia for violin & piano in C major ("Sei mir gegrüsst!"), D. 934 (Op. posth. 159) 25:03
	Composed by Franz Schubert
	Performed by Anne Akiko Meyers and Akira Eguchi
7.	Haru No Umi (Ocean in Springtime), for koto & shkauhachi (or violin) 5:15
	Composed by Michio Miyagi
	Performed by Anne Akiko Meyers and Akira Eguchi
8.	Kojo No Tsuki (Moon over ruined Castle), for koto 3:57
	Composed by Rentaro Taki
	Performed by Anne Akiko Meyers and Akira Eguchi
9.	Somewhere Over the Rainbow (for the film The Wizard of Oz) 2:47
	Composed by Harold Arlen
	Performed by Anne Akiko Meyers and Akira Eguchi

All Music Guide

Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers' Koch release Smile continues, to some extent, from her previous Avie issue Birds in Warped Time in that she is attempting to expand beyond the constraints of typical classical CD programming -- combining a couple of big works, or collecting a bunch of little ones, "encores" -- into something more imaginative and in more keeping with her own taste and personality. With that, Meyers has invested some measure of muscle into developing repertoire that fits her generous, yet transparent tone with the same degree of comfort as one of her designer-made concert gowns. Here we have an arrangement of the Japanese melody "Kojo No Tsuki," made by Meyers herself in collaboration with Shigeaki Saegusa, for solo violin. With all apologies due to accompanist Akira Eguchi, this solo violin track is one of the loveliest things that Meyers has ever done. Not that Eguchi does not get to shine, which he does in Meyers' performance of Franz Schubert's "C major Violin Fantasy," a work dating from a gloomy period in Schubert's life all too often written off as a succulent bonbon designed to please the Viennese public -- indeed, Meyers locates the work's dark side. Yet she likewise finds the sunlight peeking through the stained glass window of the cathedral in Olivier Messiaen's "Fantaisie" (1933), a violin and piano piece wholly unknown until it was discovered in 2007 and recorded for American audiences here for the first time. It is early, but recognizable as Messiaen's from the first bar and even hinting at some of his later tendency towards eclecticism, referencing as it does a twisted-up line of chant melody in its opening and borrowing a figure from Richard Strauss' "Till Eulenspiegel's Lustige Streiche." Elsewhere we have a reading of Arvo Pärt's "Spiegel im Spiegel" that is as smooth and undisturbed as the surface of a mirror, or perhaps a particularly motionless pool of water, sparkling renditions of a pair of tasty Piazzolla tangos and tasteful, respectful recastings of popular songs, Harold Arlen's "Over the Rainbow" and the title track, Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" as arranged by Claus Ogerman.

Every moment of Smile is generous, warm, and entertaining; as a whole, this album strikes a strong balance between ambition and amusement, none too wonky for fans with only a casual contact with classical, yet meaty enough to engage the eggheads. Smile is Meyers' 13th album; not too many artists who embark on their careers as prodigies get to survive as long, or to record as often, as Meyers, and you get the sense that she appreciates it, and us. Smile is very a well planned, well recorded -- though one could argue for a bit more of the accompaniment here and there -- and a beautifully played program that is emotionally fulfilling, substantive, and never boring. For those interested in attending one of Meyers' concerts, this is an ideal disc to get to know her with, but Smile would be just as good for late night reading or snuggling, as it combines the qualities of a wonderfully intimate feel, graciousness, and Meyers' own personal charisma. Bravo! Uncle Dave Lewis

BBC Music Magazine

Meyers's beautiful sound and control pay dividends in Pärt's crystalline Spiegel im Spiegel. Paul Riley

Newark Star-Ledger

1/2 [Meyers] offers a compelling balance of glamour and gravity.... The violinist's silvery tone and sense of drama make two of Piazzolla's most memorable tangos more ravishing than ever. Bradley Bambarger

Audiophile Audition

() A stunning recital.... Sequenced so effectively that each new style creates a riveting new musical window and the 63-minute recital passes very quickly. Laurence Vittes