Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

This is Volume 7 in Centaur's ongoing series of the complete keyboard works of Francois Couperin, performed on harpsichord by Mark Kroll. Mark Kroll has performed Couperin's works throughout his performing life, and it shows in these wonderful recordings. Mark Kroll has been acclaimed as one of the world's leading harpsichordists and fortepianists. During a career spanning more than fifty years, he has appeared as a recitalist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician on four continents, winning critical praise for his expressive playing and virtuosity. He has played under the batons of conductors such as Seiji Ozawa, Sir Simon Rattle, James Levine, Kurt Masur, Sir Colin Davis and Charles Dutoit, and served as harpsichordist for the Boston Symphony since 1979.

The Gloriosa Piano Trio is one of the finest piano trios based in the U.S. today. This program includes the wonderful Saint-Saens Trio No. 2 with a work by Piazzolla, and two contemporary American works, both from 2016. “Driven by lush violin-and-cello unison melodies” and a timbre that is “fuller than the brain imagines three musicians can sound” (Jon Sobel, BlogCritics), the Gloriosa Piano Trio burst onto the music scene in January 2014 as brightly as the flame lily for which the group is named. The trio’s carefully-crafted thematic programs delivered in exuberant performance have appealed to diverse audiences around the country, with critics hailing the Gloriosa Piano Trio’s debut concerts in Palm Beach and New York City as “…a special, aesthetic experience not to be ignored” (Allen Rosenberg, the Daily News). All experienced chamber musicians with a passion for collaboration, pianist Yoonie Han, violinist Eric Silberger, and cellist Kevin Bate looked to the beauty of nature to inspire them with a name for their group, finding in the Gloriosa lily a fitting symbol to describe their fervent desire to share the music they love. The trio has performed and taught at the New Jersey City University, University of North Florida Jacksonville, Emory University, Georgia Southwestern State University, and the Boulder Chamber Orchestra Music Series.

This album includes the complete Franz Schubert Sonatas for Violin and Piano, performed on period instruments. Elizabeth Holowell is an eminent teacher of violin and viola, chamber music and string orchestra, with extensive experience at universities and music colleges in Australasia and Britain. Her graduates are found in many major international orchestras. She was herself a student of Robert Pikler who was, in turn, taught by Hubay and by Thibaud. Elizabeth was a core member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and has played in the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, the William Hennessy String Quartet, and the Newcastle University Piano Trio. Erin Helyard has been acclaimed as an inspiring conductor, a virtuosic and expressive performer of the harpsichord and fortepiano, and as a lucid scholar who is passionate about promoting discourse between musicology and performance. Erin graduated in harpsichord performance from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with first-class honours and the University Medal. He completed his Masters in fortepiano performance and a PhD in musicology with Tom Beghin at the Schulich School of Music, McGill University, Montreal. He was named the Westfield Concert Scholar (Cornell University) on fortepiano for 2009-2010 and from 2003 to 2012 Erin was a central member of the award-winning Ensemble Caprice (Montreal). As Artistic Director and co-founder of the celebrated Pinchgut Opera and the Orchestra of the Antipodes (Sydney) he has forged new standards of excellence in historically-informed performance in Australia.

This is an album of songs for mezzo-soprano and varied small ensembles. The works are from the early to mid 20th Century. Sahar Hassan sings this truly beautiful program. Egyptian American mezzo-soprano Sahar Hassan maintains a busy schedule as a chamber musician and frequent oratorio soloist. Committed to bringing lesser known works to life, she is artistic director of the Twin Cities based Ladyslipper Ensemble, which was born out of her love for chamber music. Ms. Hassan has been on the voice faculties of New England Conservatory's Division of Preparatory and Continuing Education, Wellesley College, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University and McNally Smith College of Music. She earned her Masters in Music from New England Conservatory of Music, with additional studies at the Conservatoire de Versailles in France and the Hochschule f�r Musik in Munich, Germany.

Classical Music

Classical Music

"This is an immensely enjoyable and rewarding release, and one that comes with the highest recommendation. " - Jerry Dubins, Fanfare

This new release is an album of contemporary works for clarinet, supported by guitar, piano, and double bass. These works take as their foundation the traditions of Portuguese folk music. One of the more visible and active clarinetists on the scene today, Wesley Ferreira has been praised by critics for his "beautiful tone" and "technical prowess" (The Clarinet Journal) as well as his "remarkable sensitivity" (CAML Review). Fanfare Magazine notes, Ferreira is "clearly a major talent". As a recital clarinetist, his performances continually engage audiences, compelling the artistic director of one recent concert series performance to remark that Ferreira "showcased a potent synthesis of serious musicianship, technical ferocity, and bravery of programming that was effectively tempered by a dynamic flair for showmanship. With this performance, Ferreira proved not only is he an artist of some consequence, but also a consummate showman capable for presenting even the most challenging works with the ease and fluency of a world-class player."

This release features three exciting chamber works by female composers, written during the first three decades of the twentieth century. This project was initiated by pianist Joanna Goldstein. Joanna Goldstein (piano, University Orchestra director) is Professor of Music at Indiana University Southeast. She was also formerly the Dean of the School of Arts & Letters until 2001. In addition to her piano studio, she directs the Indiana University Southeast Orchestra. Joanna earned her Bachelor of Music degree summa cum laude at Temple University, her Masters of Music at The Juilliard School and a Ph. D. from New York University. She also studied at the Academy for Music and the Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria as a Fulbright-Hays Scholar and has received numerous honors including winning the Philadelphia Orchestra Young Artist Competition on two occasions, the National Arts Club Competition and the Mason-Hamlin Competition. She is joined here by Steven Moeckel, Nicholas Finch, and Bruce Heim.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music