New at Noon Week of Feb. 12

This week we celebrate Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day with two stellar releases.

Tan Dun’s Buddha Passion is “a captivating tale of wonder, truth and gentle but irresistible transformation. The monumental work involving massed choirs, large orchestra, six percussionists and an array of soloists including indigenous singers, traditional Chinese instruments and a dancing pipa player, is the first such ‘Passion’ on a Buddhist rather than Christian narrative.”

Echoes of Eastern Europe is the latest from the Buffalo Philharmonic and music director JoAnn Falletta. It has a fiery rendition of Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7 in d minor, plus the world premiere recording of David Ludwig’s Violin Concerto. The soloist, Bella Hristova, happens to be the wife of David Ludwig! How romantic is that?!