“…kaleidoscopic piano playing…”
-Laurence Vittes
Composed in 1915, Szymanowski’s Mythes is a three movement work consisting of miniature tone poems based on Greek mythology. Late romantic and impressionist in style, the composer’s travels to Sicily and North Africa without doubt influenced the exotic and sumptuous sound world he created in this work. Mythes is the opening work on this eclectic recital album from James Ehnes and Andrew Armstrong. Also on this programme is Handel’s D major violin sonata – a once popular staple of the violin repertoire, now sadly seldom encountered. The album concludes with a selection of short and sparkly miniatures and encores. There are some old favourites here as well as new – James Newton Howard’s ‘133…At least’ is dazzling!
“… kaleidoscopic piano playing…”
Laurence Vittes | June 18, 2019 – Montréal, Quebec
“The Beethoven they revealed through their commitment to communicating the essence of the music through sublime playing scrupulously following a comprehensive understanding of the score created an unstoppable and organic narrative flow that had the audience riveted to every note. It was an emotionally complex Beethoven they revealed, full of love and rage, all in a very modern way.”