Looking Back, Moving On
Navona, 2023
9/10
Listen to Looking Back, Moving On
The New York composer Anthony Iannaccone brings along the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic and Richard Stoltzman on clarinet for these distinct contemporary symphonic pieces that spread out across 2 discs of superbly textured song craft.
“Night Rivers, Symphony No.3” opens the listen with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s flawless attention to detail in the 20+ minutes of careful, radiant and booming musicianship that’s full of mystery and intimacy, and “Bridges, Symphony No.4” follows with a similar meticulousness that emits dynamic strings, thundering percussion, and flowing winds.
“Waiting For Sunrise On The Sound” exits disc 1, and it’s a much calmer affair that finds plenty of dreamy textures to reside in, while “Concertante for Clarinet and Orchestra” is populated by Richard Stoltzman’s clarinet and the Warsaw Philharmonic’s busy versus clam approach that’s cinematic and rich in nature.
The final track, “From Time to Time, Fantasias on Two Appalachian Folksongs”, brings back the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for playful, light moments as well as bursts of ebullient, powerful instrumentation that finishes the listen as memorably as it started.
George Manahan and Alexander Jiménez handle the conducting portion of the listen, and together with the exceptional players they illuminate Iannaccone’s imaginative, often subtle and very exciting vision.
Travels well with: Laurence Sherr- Fugitive Footsteps; Sydney Hodkinson- Chamber Works