Search - George Crumb, Richard Wernick, Lambert Orkis :: Orkis plays Crumb, Wernick

Most of this disc is taken up with the very long and difficult Wernick Sonata. The opportunity to listen to three-quarters of an hour of music written in a highly dissonant idiom won't send throngs rushing to buy this disc. I spent a fair amount of time listening yet didn't feel I had gotten to understand the music; but it leaves me with the feeling that something worthwhile is happening, and the piece does have a lot of dramatic contrasts to keep your interest alive if you make the effort. I usually love Crumb's music, but this lesser effort sounds like second-hand Messiaen. Lambert Orkis's playing is pretty exciting. --Leslie Gerber