Baltic Sketches
Navona, 2025
8/10
The composer Scott Brickman presents symphonic works inspired by Brickman’s Baltic and Slavic ancestry here, where the 4 involved pieces are fleshed out with strong attention to detail.
“Symphony #5” starts the listen with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra making for a very colorful and dynamic delivery under the conducting of Ivan Josip Skender, which pulls from Latvian folk traditions, including folk dances, songs, and Lutheran liturgical music.
In the middle, “Symphony #1” employs the meticulous strings of the Kiev Philharmonic amid Robert Ian Winstin’s conducting that guides the unpredictable and sometimes soft gestures, while “Symphony #4: Restoration” benefits much from the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava and Jiří Petrdlík’s conducting via the cinematic and tense bursts.
“Symphony #6” exits the listen and showcases the Filharmonie Brno and Petrdlik’s conducting in a busy but controlled finish that spotlights the soaring brass and winds with an animated presence.
Some of the themes covered here include current socio-political events, including military conflict in the Middle East and the climate crisis, as Brickman’s eloquent vision is fleshed out superbly.
Travels well with: Frank Horvat- More Rivers; Kai-Young Chen- Constraints/Creativity