Toward Light
New Focus, 2025
9/10
The Cassatt String Quartet are now 41 years strong, and these 3 quintets by Daniel Strong Godfrey welcomes Ursula Oppens, Eliot Fisk and Nicole Johnson to the meticulous listen.
“Ricordanza-Speranza” starts the record with Muneko Otani and Jennifer Leshnower’s gripping violins that are met with Sarah Adams’ moody viola and Oppens’ distinct piano for both gentle and bright gestures.
The middle belongs to the title track, where Fisk’s intricate guitar and Gwen Krosnick’s animated cello help guide the often cinematic bouts and colorful ideas of the 4 segments.
“To Mourn, To Dance” exits, and it’s an emotive and lively finish as Elizabeth Anderson and Johnson’s intricate cellos align with flowing violins and Ah Ling’s viola.
Godrey’s accomplishments are wide and unparalleled, and his work is fleshed out here with much attention to a distinct contemporary classical vision that we could never tire of.
Travels well with: David Salvage- Dreams Of Love And Travel; Issac Shieh- Caprice Reimagined