TRACK LISTING

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra Op.74 (2001)
1. Appassionato 12:39
2. Lento 6:27
3. Allegro 5:20
4. Chamber Concerto No.1 Op.28a for Violin, Piano and String Orchestra (1989/2022) 17:23
5. Chamber Concerto No.2 Op.98a for Violin and String Orchestra (2006/2022) 10:46
6. Air Op.118 (2011) for Violin and Orchestra 9:34

REVIEWS

“Blue Griffin’s ambitious programme of Lowell Liebermann world premieres is dominated by the immersive relationships the soloists develop with the composer’s broad orchestral spectrum…Liebermann’s epic visions, often in surges of bassoons, double basses and low brass, bloom into cinematic universes. Liebermann’s Violin Concerto, premiered by Chantal Juillet and the Philadelphia Orchestra, seethes with intoxicated lyrical imagination...Aiman Mussahajayeva and her orchestra take no prisoners with Liebermann’s demands for spectacular virtuoso display, passionate rhapsody and sheer instrumental power…music that enchants the ear as much as it impresses the intellect. ——-Gramophone

(5 stars) “The centerpiece of the album is the 2001 Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra and Charles Dutoit with violinist Chantal Juilliet. The work opens with an appassionato that develops tautly between soaring, lamentations and harsh interjections from the orchestra. In the quiet second movement, Aiman Mussakhajayeva makes her violin sing beguilingly before the mood shifts and develops as if disturbed to a majestic conclusion that segues into the virtuosic, strongly rhythmic finale, bursting with compositional ideas. The movement ends a truly fine violin concerto that definitely deserves a place in the repertoire.The First Chamber Concerto for violin, piano, and strings measures through various moods with nervously urgent, playful, and brilliantly virtuosic as well as slower passages.The second chamber concerto for violin and strings begins with an elegiac elegy followed by an agitated part in which the violin repeatedly raises questions: Why?, one hears the instrument say. The mourning gives way to a certain warmth as well as to exasperation. The whole is a reaction of the composer to the death of a good friend. The quietly lyrical but, along with beautifully warm passages, essentially somewhat somber and plaintive Air concludes the program, which demonstrates the extraordinary stature of composer Lowell Liebermann. ——Remy Frank, Pizzicato Magazine

“There is real magic in this music…All four works have the real potential of joining the permanent repertory of classic concerto fare, deservingly….It is a gem of a program to appreciate over a long time…” ——Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review

“In this recording Ms. Mussakhajayeva proves herself to be the ideal interpreter of Lowell Liebermann’s uncompromisingly bold and impressively varied music. She plays fiercely at times, with restraint at others, always in command of her unflaggingly prodigious technique. Her fellow Kazakh artists are beyond reproach.” ——All About The Arts

“The release of Lowell Liebermann's works for violin and orchestra brings with it a number of auspicious firsts: all four are world premiere recordings, and it's also the debut recording of the Kazakh State Symphony Orchestra (KSSO)…Performing on a 1732 Stradivarius, the award-winning Mussakhajayeva proves herself to be an ideal conduit for Liebermann's musical imaginings. The album's primary work comes first, the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 74, which The Philadelphia Inquirer opined could achieve “a popularity not enjoyed by any other violin concerto since the Barber.” Such high praise is supported by the work, which one imagines any of today's major violin soloists would lust after. While it was premiered in 2001 by the Philadelphia Orchestra with violinist Chantal Juilliet, Mussakhajayeva and the KSSO make it their own with a riveting performance….Liebermann's involvement on piano serves as a reminder of his prowess in that department, something also accomplished by the two releases of solo piano music he issued on the Steinway & Sons label in 2021 and 2022 to widespread acclaim… Engaged performances by the orchestra and Mussakhajayeva amplify the luxuriant richness of Liebermann's material… The four pieces here reaffirm what he's demonstrated in his writing before, that while his works position themselves comfortably within the continuum of classical composition, they're never overtly derivative or slot into a particular style—he's no serialist or minimalist, in other words, and his works are neither exclusively tonal nor atonal. Instead, he's carved out his own niche by creating a seamlessly integrated style that's beholden to no one but himself. Each work develops organically and on its own expressive terms, with one episode evolving naturally into the next. To state it most simply, by utilizing all of the time-honoured tricks of the trade Liebermann has created a style that fits comfortably within the tradition; it's also, however, wholly marked by his personal signature. A work might be at one moment lyrical and introspective and at another ominous and unsettling, but it's always recognizable as his.” ——textura.org

“…a work of unblushingly dazzling and viscous romance…Liebermann must count himself smiled upon by the gods in having found this violinist, this orchestra, this conductor and the technical team that produce such high calorific value performances and sound.” ——Music Web International

“Liebermann’s music is consistently emotionally and intellectually engaging - direct enough to reach a wide audience, but mature enough to find real depth and originality in his writing. Fine performances from the composer on piano, Kazakh violinist Aiman Mussakhajayeva and the Kazakh State Symphony under the direction of Tigran Shiganyan.” ——American Record Guide

“Lovers of contemporary American music…will find a collection here that will warrant repeated listening. These are committed performances from what may seem an unlikely source to the casual listener, but there is fine, intelligent musicmaking to be heard in this release that is well worth tracking down. The final Air is a poignant conclusion to an excellent release.” ———-sakennedymusic.com

“I am always delighted when a new CD of music by Lowell Liebermann arrives…as I find his music invariably arresting and imaginative. The present CD is particularly of interest…The three shorter works that fill out the disc are no less enjoyable than Liebermann’s magnificent Violin Concerto…Liebermann’s mastery of the materials again affords the listener a listening experience not to be forgotten…this disc definitely belongs in your collection and here receives my highest possible recommendation.” ——- David DeBoor Canfield, Fanfare Magazine

“Undoubtedly one of the most revered composers from this generation, the pianist Lowell Liebermann brings us 4 world premiere recordings…A body of work that covers 30 years of Liebermann’s songwriting, the technical aspect of these compositions os just as admirable as the flawless delivery.” ——- takeeffectreviews.com