Sometimes when reflecting upon a past project, dwelling upon its name and whether or not it was aptly chosen can be unavoidable, and perhaps doubly so if the project was short-lived. In a name like Kublai Khan comes a renowned historical figure that factors in all too well with thrash metal, namely a great Mongolian ruler whose exploits are rivaled by few, though also a complex one that was not without his personal failures and vulnerabilities…
Schifrin’s Concierto Caribeno for flute, was commissioned by and is dedicated to the Mexican flautist Marisa Canales. Its first movement opens with a busy orchestral phrase, which immediately gives us a taste of the tropical percussion of the Caribbean. The solo flute sings the syncopated first theme that will be developed in a classical sonata form without losing the spontaneity and freshness of this music. Orchestral dialogues unfold a virtuoso elaboration on the theme where the rhythmic flexibility and the rich ornamentation give the development an improvised feeling.