Search - Andrew Violette, Ursula Mamlok, Robert Helps :: Solo Flights - 20th Century Works for Piano

Whetting the Taste for more from each great pianist

oregontalk | Brooklyn, NY United States | 09/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a musical feast from well knowns like David Del Tredici
and lesser knowns (who will be better known after hearing this!)
like Andrew Violette. Contemporary classical music is largely
absent from the radio airwaves, so unless you *know* about it, you don't get to hear it. Well, get this CD and get in the know. It's wonderful. There's substance and style here. Great value."

Some fine and several dreadful pieces

Dan Marquis | Minneapolis | 04/27/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very mixed bag of material, not surprising since it involves mostly living composers. Several pieces are quite fine and worth hearing, while others will disappear almost as soon as the toner dries on the score. On the plus side: the 5 pieces by Robert Helps have a quiet elegance and are skillfully composed, though they are lacking melodically; "Our Mingling Arms" by Molly Thompson is truly musical and beautifully written for the piano; Ms. Mamiok's Three Bagatelles come alive with their spare, Webern-like charm; and the second Virgil Thomson work, "Edges," is a stunning work indeed. While a not terribly funny nor clever musical joke, David Del Tredici's "Opposites Attract" demonstrates the thorough mastery of form and style this gifted composer possesses. Leopold Godowsky's Chopin tribute also has some lovely moments, though it is no match for the originals. Unfortunately, the remainder of the program amounts to very little indeed. John Zorn's agonizing "Carny" is just what we expect from this over-prolific composer. If you like Zorn's music, you'll like this, but, as usual, it's all just for effect. What a waste of talent. The remaining pieces are almost uniformly lifeless and without merit. There are Mr. Violette's two dreadful faux-Chopin pieces, Ms. Hovda's imitation John Cage (without the skill or wit), Ms. Kaminsky's remarkably dull "Triftmusik," and the almost laughably weak pieces by Jed Distler. The final work, "The Anthem for Woodstock," is thoroughly dismal and pretentious, and including this execrable piece shows that the producers of this recording really had no ability to discern quality music from dreck."