Classical Music

Heaven-sent Taboos, the eighth volume of the Ludwig van Beethoven piano sonata recordings by pianist Timothy Ehlen, marks the completion of his cycle for Azica. Currently Assoc. Prof. Of Piano at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Timothy Ehlen has performed extensively in the U.S. and Europe as a soloist and chamber player. In addition to numerous solo, concerto and chamber performances at the Krannert Center in Champaign, recent recitals include Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, Cleveland Orchestra's Schubert Bi-Centennial Series in Cleveland and many others.

Guitarist David Leisner, a featured Azica solo recording artist, commissioned "Facts of Life" from American composer David Del Tredici for this recording, and in addition delivers the world premiere recording of Osvaldo Golijov's "Fish Tale" with flutist Tara Helen O'Connor. David's arrangement of the JS Bach "Lute Suite" BWV 997, included here, was one of the inspirations for Mr. Del Tredici's "Facts of Life". Mr. Leisner is an extraordinarily versatile musician with a multi-faceted career as an electrifying performer, a distinguished composer and a master teacher. Recent appearances have taken him around the USA, Puerto Rico, Oceania, Europe, Japan and Mexico. He also serves as Artistic Director of the Guitar Plus series in New York, a series that features chamber music with guitar.

"An album of duets for flute and piano featuring renditions of 20th century, single movement miscellany from several French composers, including Lili Boulanger, with additional pieces from Samuel Barber, Richard Rodney Bennett and Sophia Gubaidulina, among others. Flautist Lori Bell picked up the instrument as a teenager following guitar studies. She subsequently recorded nine jazz CD's before rededicating herself to the classical repertoire."

Well-versed in the classic literature for flute, Pam Youngblood enjoys exploring lesser known pieces by past masters as well as compositions by living composers. In this second collaboration with pianist Gabriel Bita, Youngblood's choices encompass music by composers from Slovenia, France, Britain, and the USA. The four works on this disc share eclectic styles, wit, and a vibrant approach to the flute/piano combination.

Classical Music

After his Lincoln Center debut in 1988, sponsored by the World Piano Competition, The New York Times rave that his "playing was filled with elegant personality[...] recalled bygone artists like Robert Casadesus and especially Walter Gieseking in their mastery of both 18th century and impressionist music[...] immaculate technique."

Classical Music

The young Taiwanese-American virtuoso pianist Weiyin Chen is an artist whose promise is just beginning to emerge. Ms. Chen is a performer to whom the music matters more than anything else, a refreshing outlook for young artists who normally try to showcase their technical skills about all else. She has appeared as a soloist in Asia with Taiwan Philharmonic NSO and the China NSO.

American pianist Timothy Ehlen continues his prolific recording career with this offering of the music of Johannes Brahms. Mr. Ehlen, Professor of Piano at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, has performed extensively in the United States and Europe as a soloist and chamber player. He first gained international attention after winning the World Piano Competition in 1987; after his subsequent debut in Lincoln Center at Alice Tully Hall in 1988, the New York Times raved that his "playing was filled with elegant personality... recalled bygone artists like Robert Casadesus and, especially Walter Gieseking in their mastery of both 18th century and impressionist music... immaculate technique." The Pro Piano Recital Series sponsored his 1997 recital in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, which the New York Concert Review hailed as "... an absolutely remarkable tour-de-force." Recitals in France, Germany and Korea have received a similarly enthusiastic response. Mr. Ehlen has recorded the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas for the Azica label. After the release of volume III, Fanfare Magazine wrote: "... I have the feeling that the cycle with the richest rewards will turn out to be the Ehlen."

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music