Spectrum
Delos, 2022
8/10
The esteemed composer Mark Abel brings us two discs of songs that spotlight the inimitable talents of the vocalists Hila Plitmann, Isabel Bayrakdarian and Kindra Scharich, and also features the pianist Dominic Cheli, the Pacific Symphony concertmaster Dennis Kim, the Alexander String Quartet violist David Samuel, plus cellist Jonah Kim, horn player Jeff Garza, flutist Christy Kim and pianists Sean Kennard and Jeffrey LaDeur.
“Trois Femmes Du Cinema” opens the listen with 3 chapters, where Bayrakdarian’s gorgeous, soaring soprano is surrounded by the firm, agile keys of Carol Rosenberger, as Abel provides texts about the cult figures Anne Wiazemsky, Pina Pellicer and Larisa Shepitko.
“Two Scenes From ‘The Book Of Esther’” follows, and recruits stirring strings and Plitmann’s soprano and Scharich’s mezzo-soprano for the sometimes busy setting that’s both tense and pretty amid the precise winds.
Deeper into the listen, the cautious strings and warm keys of “Reconciliation Day” gets quite animated, while “Out The Other Side” flows with a very introspective appeal, where the instrumentation is often emotive, sometimes lively and even a bit darker on occasion.
The final piece, “1966”, might be the best, and emits so much profound elegance from both the expressive singing and dynamic musicianship that radiates timelessness in its heartfelt execution.
A stunning body of work, Abel further solidifies himself as a prominent figure in the area of contemporary music with this well crafted chamber listen.
Travels well with: Wenting Kang- Mosaic; Orli Shaham- Complete Piano Sonatas Vol. 2 & 3