On August 1, 2023, Albany Records unveiled a masterful tapestry of sound and emotion with the release of From Method to Madness: The American Sound. This exquisite recording is a collaborative effort between longtime friends and accomplished musicians, cellist Clancy Newman and pianist Natalie Zhu. Both artists have journeyed through deeply personal musical trajectories, and their shared album is a celebration of American composers, innovative methods, and a dynamic understanding of music.
The conception of this album is almost serendipitous. Born out [...]
Icelandic pianist-composer Eydís Evensen’s second album, The Light, is an artistic experience that unveils the beauty found within pain, suffering, and solitude. This album is an introspective journey that paints a vivid picture of human emotions through the universal language of music. Read our review of her EP Frost.
The album embarks on its journey with “Anna’s Theme,” a piece that gently coaxes the listener into Evensen’s musical realm. This track, marked by a simple yet memorable melody, unfolds through a series of beautiful chord progressions. Evensen’s touch on the piano is light and flowing, the [...]
María Dueñas’ debut album, Beethoven and Beyond, is an exhilarating musical exposition, illuminating the intricate weaving of virtuosity and expression that characterizes the young violinist’s style. The album’s tour de force lies in its exploration of cadenzas. This musical endeavor amplifies the dynamic interplay between the perennial works of legendary composers and Dueñas’s nuanced, innovative interpretations.
Kicking off the album with Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, Dueñas unveils the musical palette she will [...]
Rosalind Ventris is releasing her debut solo viola album featuring a unique and often unheard collection of music titled Sola: Music for Viola by Women Composers.
Ventris chooses music for unaccompanied viola that was composed between 1930 (Imogen Holst’s impressive Suite for Viola) and the present day (a 2020 lockdown miniature by Thea Musgrave). The primarily British and Irish program features substantial works by important yet often overlooked twentieth-century composers, including Imogen Holst, Lillian Fuchs, Elizabeth Maconchy, Elisabeth Lutyens, and Grayna Bacewicz. In addition, Ventris includes [...]
