Reactions
Naxos, 2022
8/10
The award winning composer Margaret Brouwer brings us 21st century chamber and vocal music here, where much attention to emotion and mood comprises the subject matter about the current state of affairs.
“Rhapsodic Sonata” opens the listen with 3 chapters, where Eliesha Nelson’s viola and Shuai Wang’s piano interact with both tension and grace, as both busy and bare moments emit much beauty in the mesmerizing climate.
“Declaration” lands in the middle, and recruits Sarah Beaty’s stunning mezzo-soprano for the soaring and poetic landscape that embraces Mari Sato’s sublime violin.
Further down the line, “The Lake” showcases incredible finger acrobatics from Wang’s keys amid Brian Skoog’s spellbinding tenor, and “All Lines Are Still Busy” includes narration from Mari Sato, who also provides the chilling violin prowess of the humorous finish.
A highly engaging contemporary chamber affair, Brouwer’s company make the most of the timeless melodies, comedic moments and more topical social issues that are fleshed out with strong attention to detail and much appreciated precision.
Travels well with: Frederic Hand- Across Time; Solomiya Ivakhiv- Poems & Rhapsodies