Best of Year 2006 - The New Yorker
Bridge's "George Perle: Retrospective" celebrates the music of one of America's greatest compositional voices with a two-disc set of pieces written between 1957 and 2004. Encompassing solo, chamber, choral and orchestral music, the album presents twelve compositions, including the premiere recordings of six of George Perle's pieces, and re-issues two major Perle recordings: the Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra; and the Serenade No. 3 for Piano and Chamber Orchestra. In addition to these major Perle masterpieces, the set includes rarities such as Perle's lovely arrangement of Two French Christmas Carols from 1958, and his last completed composition, Bassoonmusic of 2004. The recordings are performed by many of Perle's greatest champions, including Horacio Guttierrez, Curtis Macomber, Michael Boriskin, Joseph Silverstein, Richard Goode, and Gerard Schwarz, and also includes a short work performed by the composer's wife, pianist Shirley Perle. Along with more than two-and-a-half hours of music, Bridge's "George Perle: Retrospective" includes a booklet with historic photographs of George Perle with many of the 20th century's leading musicians.
Reviews:
“As a creditable and enjoyable introduction to the music of the composer, Perle – A Retrospective cannot be faulted. As a representative survey of his music, it’s exemplary. As two and a half hours of enjoyable modern music, it’s highly likely to please.” - Classical Net
“Accessible and communicative dissonant music. A generous conspectus of Perle’s work supported by sound and well designed liner notes.” - MusicWeb International
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George Perle, composer
Disc A
Nine Bagatelles (1999)*, Horacio Gutierrez, piano
Three Inventions for Solo Bassoon (1962), Steven Dibner, bassoon
Adagietto con affetto from Chansons Cachées (1997), Shirley Perle, piano
Two French Christmas Carols (arr. 1958) The New York Virtuoso Singers, Harold Rosenbaum, conductor
Triptych for Solo Violin and Piano (2002), Curtis Macomber, violin, Chistopher Oldfather, piano
Brief Encounters (String Quartet No. 9) (1998); DePaul String Quartet
Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra (1992), Michael Boriskin, piano, Utah Symphony, Joseph Silverstein, conductor
Disc B
Serenade No. 3 for Piano and Chamber Orchestra (1983), Richard Goode, piano, Music Today Ensemble, Gerard Schwarz, conductor
Solo Partita for Violin and Viola (1965), Curtis Macomber, violin and viola
Six Celebratory Inventions (1981-95), Molly Morkoski, piano
Bassoonmusic (2004), Steven Dibner, bassoon
Quintet for Strings (1957-58), Chicago String Quartet
BRIDGE 9214A/B (two discs)
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