The Six Realms - The God Realm and the Jealous God Realm
Horn Concerto - Track 1
Horn Concerto - Track 2
Peter Lieberson's is certainly one of the most refreshing compositional voices to have entered the repertoire of the world s leading orchestras during the past several decades. Lieberson's music ranges broadly: his composi... more »tions address the listener with a generous variety of character, while his harmonic palette expresses richly developed hues of both tonality and atonality. This CD features premiere recordings of three major works, opening with a setting of five Rilke poems written for the composer's wife, the much admired mezzo-soprano, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Ms. Hunt Lieberson performs alongside one of Peter Lieberson's most devoted champions, the estimable pianist, Peter Serkin. Their impassioned account of Lieberson's Rilke Songs was recorded in concert at the Ravinia Festival. The Horn Concerto was composed for horn and a chamber orchestra, and is played by its dedicatee, the horn virtuoso William Purvis. The eighteen minute composition is in two movements that emphasize the lyrical nature of the horn, but also in the composer s words, its feisty, dance-like and humorous side. The largest work on this disc is The Six Realms, a twenty-seven minute cello concerto in six movements, originally composed for Yo Yo Ma. Based on the composer s long standing practice of Tibetan Buddhism, The Six Realms reflect the Buddhist realms, which offer a detailed portrait of human consciousness. The music of this utterly original concerto ranges from sensuously lyrical to humorous, and gives full voice to the cello's ability to sing long lyric lines throughout its range. The cello soloist is Tchaikovsky Competition prize-winner Michaela Fukacova. Michaela Fukacova plays Poul Ruders: Anima (Cello Cto. No. 2) BRIDGE 9122 William Purvis plays Robert and Clara Schumann: Horn Music BRIDGE 9164 Peter Serkin plays Stefan Wolpe: Piece in 2 Parts, BRIDGE 9043« less
Peter Lieberson's is certainly one of the most refreshing compositional voices to have entered the repertoire of the world s leading orchestras during the past several decades. Lieberson's music ranges broadly: his compositions address the listener with a generous variety of character, while his harmonic palette expresses richly developed hues of both tonality and atonality. This CD features premiere recordings of three major works, opening with a setting of five Rilke poems written for the composer's wife, the much admired mezzo-soprano, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Ms. Hunt Lieberson performs alongside one of Peter Lieberson's most devoted champions, the estimable pianist, Peter Serkin. Their impassioned account of Lieberson's Rilke Songs was recorded in concert at the Ravinia Festival. The Horn Concerto was composed for horn and a chamber orchestra, and is played by its dedicatee, the horn virtuoso William Purvis. The eighteen minute composition is in two movements that emphasize the lyrical nature of the horn, but also in the composer s words, its feisty, dance-like and humorous side. The largest work on this disc is The Six Realms, a twenty-seven minute cello concerto in six movements, originally composed for Yo Yo Ma. Based on the composer s long standing practice of Tibetan Buddhism, The Six Realms reflect the Buddhist realms, which offer a detailed portrait of human consciousness. The music of this utterly original concerto ranges from sensuously lyrical to humorous, and gives full voice to the cello's ability to sing long lyric lines throughout its range. The cello soloist is Tchaikovsky Competition prize-winner Michaela Fukacova. Michaela Fukacova plays Poul Ruders: Anima (Cello Cto. No. 2) BRIDGE 9122 William Purvis plays Robert and Clara Schumann: Horn Music BRIDGE 9164 Peter Serkin plays Stefan Wolpe: Piece in 2 Parts, BRIDGE 9043
Thomas F. Dillingham | Columbia, Missouri USA | 10/08/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While it is true that I bought this recording in order to hear Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's performance (I would listen to her sing anything by anybody), it is a happy outcome that I can recommend the whole disc. I have not been a fan of Peter Lieberson's music before, but the pleasing variety of works here may convert me.
First, the Rilke songs, written for LHL, are exceptionally beautiful and her performance lives up to all expectations. The selection of five poems from Rilke's 'Sonnets to Orpheus' is itself interesting, suggesting a fine understanding of the work of that very difficult poet; the poems evoke Rilke's (and Lieberson's) fascination with the tensions between dynamic motion (and life) and the pure stasis of ideal beauty, of the search for spiritual perfection and the lure of physical/sexual power. Rilke finds in art the possibility of bringing those together, of reconciling any tension between them; Lieberson seeks the same in his music (especially as he explains its connection with Buddhist principles), and the connection in these songs is both very beautiful and convincing. LHL's voice was the perfect medium for those songs; her performance is meditative, lyrical, profoundly emotional but subtle. Anyone who values her singing will want this disc.
But further, Lieberson's piece for cello and orchestra, "Six Realms," which explores the realms of existence as described in Buddhist tradition, and the Horn Concerto, are both deeply satisfying, if not particularly adventurous, works. Both offer challenges to the soloists, and both reward the attentive listener with thought provoking and moving musical experiences. TFD"
Wrapped up in sound, thought, and memory
Robert Dixon | Berkeley, California USA | 11/05/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Of course I bought this to have another memory of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson...and on that level it succeeded; what surprised me pleasantly was the rest of the album. I enjoyed Peter Lieberson's horn concerto on first listening and have replayed it several times - finding colors and contrasts that deepened the experience of the music.
But let's not forget the prime reason for owning this disc...the glorious, wonderous, magical, intelligent, powerful - and gone forever - Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Her husband crafted songs that inhabit her voice and that she lives rather than sings...though she does. Now one must wait and hope for the Neruda Songs."
Haunting Vocals Amid a Postmodern Score
Diane M. Armitage | Santa Fe, NM | 01/08/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The late mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's full-throated singing once again astounds the astute listener. Rilke's complex poetry, set to music by the late singer's husband, Peter Lieberson, is a haunting combination of music, text, and near perfect vocal interpretation. Hunt Lieberson's incarnation of Rilke's evocations of loss and transformation is nothing less than a supremely intelligent and passionate performance. An orchestral piece and a horn concerto comprise most of the CD and Peter Lieberson's late-20th century musical sensibility is at once lyrical and dark and intent on exploring moods particularly resonant with postmodern life: ambiguity, dissonance, estrangement, lamentation, and the inexorable pull of fate toward the elliptical."
Rilke Songs, et al.
Philip Tutt | 02/17/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A very pleasant album, well performed. We especially enjoyed the songs, and the outstanding voice of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, tragically, taken from us far too soon."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
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