Inner Symphonies
Deutsche Grammophon, 2021
9/10
The two youngest composers to date on the Deutsche Grammophon roster, the pianist Hania Rani and cellist Dobrawa Czocher welcome electronics into this very fascinating debut album that’s quite artistic while still being very relevant in the area of classical sounds.
“Ouverture” starts the listen with warm ambience, where the duo’s piano and cello are weaved between the strategic electronic manipulation, and “Con Moto” follows with playful keys flowing alongside the precise strings, as a radiant, cinematic quality unfolds.
Close to the middle, “Scream” offers a hypnotic landscape with mesmerizing keys amid the plucked strings, while “Anima” flows with a dreaminess that’s full of waves of beauty as the pair interact with a sublime chemistry. “Demons”, another exceptional track, then gets playful with its calculated balance of adventurousness and poise.
As we near the end, “Dunkel”, perhaps the most atmospheric track, lends itself to a rare intimacy, and “Spring” exits the listen with 7 minutes of gorgeous piano work and intricate strings with a haze of electronics to accent the emotive finish.
Recorded in their home of Poland, Inner Symphonies is a very soulful and highly creative take on contemporary classical ideas, where the duo’s collective strength makes for an immediately absorbing listen.
Travels well with: Buchbinder- Beethoven Piano Concertos; Peter Gregson- Patina