Performer: Bruce Levingston
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Dorian Sono Luminus
Release: 2018
Size: 1.9 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Bruce, D: The Shadow of the Blackbird
01. I.
02. II.
Schumann: Kinderszenen, Op. 15
03. No. 1, Von fremden Landern und Menschen
04. No. 2, Curiose Geschichte
05. No. 3, Hasche-Mann
06. No. 4, Bittendes Kind
07. No. 5, Glückes genug
08. No. 6, Wichtige Begebenheit
09. No. 7, Träumerei
10. No. 8, Am Kamin
11. No. 9, Ritter vom Steckenpferd
12. No. 10, Fast zu ernst
13. No. 11, Fürchtenmachen
14. No. 12, Kind im Einschlummern
15. No. 13, Der Dichter spricht
16. Schumann: Arabeske in C major, Op. 18
Matheson: Windows
17. I. Jeremiah
18. II. Isaiah
29. III. Crucifixion
20. IV. The Good Samaritan
21. V. The Rose
Recorded: 8-17 May 2017
Recording Venue: Sono Luminus Studios, Boyce, Virginia, USA
Bruce Levingston is one of today’s celebrated figures in contemporary classical music. The New York Times named his album Heavy Sleep a ‘Best Classical Recording of the Year’ praising his ‘mastery of color and nuance.’ The New Yorker has called him ‘a force for new music’ with ‘a gift for innovative and glamorous programming.’ The title of pianist Bruce Levingston’s haunting new album,Windows, is taken from the beautiful suite by acclaimed American composer James Matheson, heard here in its world premiere recording. This evocative, richlycolored work depicts the exquisite stained glass windows of Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse inspired by ancient imagery and scripture. These works, which reflect a myriad of overlapping artistic influences, led Levingston, an artist known for his cutting-edge programming, to seek out other composers who have been inspired by multiple art forms. Robert Schumann was an immediate choice. His intimate Kinderszenen, a series of distilled little jewels that offer fleeting glimpses of childhood, is paired with the urbane, elegant Arabeske. Distinguished British- American composer David Bruce is also heard here in the premiere recording of his touching work, The Shadow of the Blackbird, inspired by the music of Schumann as well as the moving poetry of Wallace Stevens. It seemed fitting for Levingston to program these three inspired, and inspiring, composers together. Their works, old and new, represent aural windows through which their extraordinary visions may be heard, sensed and felt. Levingston has collaborated with some of the most gifted artists of our era, including painter Chuck Close, composer Philip Glass, authors George Plimpton and Michael Cunningham, actor Ethan Hawke, dancers Alessandra Ferri and Herman Cornejo, Colin and Eric Jacobsen and the Brooklyn Rider, and choreographers Jorma Elo and Russell Maliphant. He has conducted interviews and programs with filmmaker Ken Burns, author Ron Chernow and art historian Robert Storr, and has worked with numerous cultural institutions involving art, dance, film and music including American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Museum of Modern Art, New York; Whitney Museum of Art; Alliance Française/French Institute; The Aspen Institute and Aspen Music Festival; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Rooftop Films.