All CD Reviews

'Schubertreise' Volume 2

Artist(s): Joy Lisney, cello & James Lisney, piano

Composer(s): Schubert, Vriend, Chopin, Debussy, Lutoslawski

The second volume of Schubertreise features works by Schubert, contemporary Dutch composer Jan Vriend, Chopin, Debussy and Lutoslawski, and marks the recording debut of young British 'cellist Joy Lisney.

The Immanent Velvet

Artist(s): Floraleda Sacchi, Fero Krály, Guido Arbonelli, Piero Salvatori, Dušan Šujan, Daniel Garel, Ondrej Veselý, The Ján Pöschl Youth Orchestra with Anita Mirossayová conducting, Dawn Scarfe, Katariina Vuorinen, Caroline Bouissou, Eunjoo Noh, Elisabet Enebjörn, Ghenadie Rotari, Katka Máliková, Robert Mulch, Eva Pekárová

Composer(s): Peter Machajdík

The Immanent Velvet is the title of a new album of chamber music composed by one of Slovakia's most admired and frequently performed composers Peter Machajdík. The CD includes pieces for piano, guitar, cello, harp, voices and string ...

Remembered States

Artist(s): Argeo Ascani, Nicole Camacho, Justin Friedman, Matthew Hough, Dillon Kondor, Annie Lyle, Joshua Modney, Anne Rainwater, Megan Schubert, Dennis Sullivan

Composer(s): Matthew Hough

I’m not going to lie, Remembered States is a challenging album. At the core of this collection of compositions is a full exploration of extended techniques at the pianissimo level (with a few exceptions) and the near absence of actual notes, not to mention a complete eschewal of meter. Nonetheless, once you get settled into its sound, the album is a surprisingly listenable one, drawing you in because its unusual, intricate world is so well constructed.

Toshio Hosokawa Landscapes

Artist(s): Munich Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Alexander Liebreich; Mayumi Miyata

Composer(s): Toshio Hosokawa

"Hosokawa has long been respected in both Japan and Europe. Of late, given the strong reception given Matsukaze, his second opera, in Berlin, his stock has risen considerably in the Euro Zone. One hopes that more American conductors and ensembles will take notice of Hosokawa, a composer with a compelling individual voice developing an impressive body of work.This disc, his first portrait CD for the ECM imprint, should help."

Waves Breaking on Rocks

Artist(s): Aki Takahashi, Ari Streisfeld, John Duykers, Santa Fe New Music (David Felberg, Ikuko Kanda, James Shields, John Marchiando, Lynn Gorman, Madeline Williamson, Jeff Cornelius, Angela Gabriel, Jim Goulden, David Tolen, John Kennedy)

Composer(s): Peter Garland

Hypothetical and literal size are beautifully separated in the newly released album of music byPeter Garland (b. 1952), Waves Breaking on Rocks.