Due later this month, my lovely wife Marilyn Nonken‘s new CD from Métier, Voix Voilées, is an informal sequel to her best-selling double-CD set of Tristan Murail’s piano music. Voix Voilées includes five solo piano works from American spectralist composer Joshua Fineberg as well as Hugues Dufourt‘s epic 30-minute Erlkönig. It was recorded at EMPAC earlier this year. The CD will also be available from the usual finer online outlets soon. Below is an excerpt from Fineberg’s Fantastic Zoology, as performed by Marilyn:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Marilyn’s performance partner Sarah Rothenberg will join her on 13 April 2013 for The Grand Gesture, an evening of extraordinary two-pianist works at Peak Performances in New Jersey. They will be performing a piano version of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the premiere of the work, as well as Olivier Messiaen’s exquisite Visions de l’Amen; their recording of the latter was released to fine critical acclaim a few years ago. Said Vivien Schweitzer in the 18 July 2010 issue of the New York Times:
Ms. Nonken and Ms. Rothenberg … demonstrate a deep understanding of this shimmering, colorful score, which starts with the ecstatic clanging of bells in the opening “Amen of the Creation.” The players forcefully convey the savage energy of “Amen of the Stars and the Ringed Planet,” the second of seven movements. The mood shifts drastically with the plaintive theme of “Amen of the Agony of Jesus.” The quiet tenderness that begins “Amen of Desire,” beautifully played here, morphs into passionate exuberance. … The pealing bells of “Amen of Consummation,” the dazzyingly [sic] colorful finale, ring with sparkling clarity in these pianists’ capable hands.
You can read more about their partnership here, and tickets for the April concert are available now.