(5 out of 5 stars)
"In these days when multiculturalism is being forced upon too many with sledgehammer effect, it is good to recall how Nonesuch has been offering wonderful recordings of music from other lands for decades now. An excellent example has reached me by way of a pre-release copy called . It is described in the press release as an all-premiere recording, which collects new music from Portugal and Argentina, India to the Middle East, Mexico and the United States; and it offers us "collaborations with renowned musicians from around the world in diverse repertoire unified by arrangements of Osvaldo Golijov." Most of this is exciting stuff, some of it quite beautiful at the same time. Of course I cannot vouch for the authenticity of any of it; but I can assure you that the Kronos Quartet is never below their standards here. They are, to be sure, joined by various musicians on 5 of the 10 tracks. The liner notes, which I assume will be the same when the fully packaged product is released, are copious and informative."