HASSE BORUP AND HEATHER CONNER REVIVE NEGLECTED AMERICAN COMPOSER IN NEW CD

HASSE BORUP, VIOLIN, HEATHER CONNER, PIANO; Persichetti: Works for Violin and Piano (Naxos) ****

Vincent Persichetti was one of the most significant American composers of the 20th century, but the intervening years have not been kind to him. During his life he was overshadowed by others, principally Aaron Copland and Samuel Barber. And well before his death in 1987 at the age of 72 Persichetti was forgotten and his works neglected.

Two University of Utah faculty members, however, have recently done their part in reviving Persichetti’s name and reputation. Violinist Hasse Borup and pianist Heather Conner have just released a CD on the Naxos label that features Persichetti’s works for violin and piano, all of which are premiere recordings. And he was while researching Persichetti’s works at the New York Public Library for this recording, Borup uncovered a work, the Sonata for Violin and Piano, op. 15, that had been lost for over 70 years. This piece is the first work on the disc.

The sonatas and other works that Borup and Conner have chosen span a large chunk of Persichetti’s creative life, from the 1940s to the ‘60s. The works are a wonderful document of his development as a composer. Surprisingly, the early pieces already exhibit a sophistication of style and harmonic language that he honed and refined throughout his creative life. All of the works are well constructed and show Persichetti’s mastery of form, harmony and melody.

Borup and Conner give stellar performances of the 10 works on this CD. Their playing is wonderfully phrased, crafted and delineated. They pay close attention to details of expression without turning these performances into something academic. Instead, the sonatas and other pieces on the disc are vibrant and exciting and come vividly to life.

Of particular note is the Sonata for Solo Violin, op. 10, which Borup plays with cleanly defined articulation and fine craftsmanship. Also notable is the manner in which Conner plays the six sonatinas for piano. She brings a wonderfully keen sense of expression and lyricism to her readings that give the pieces depth and definition.

Another delight are the Masques, op. 99, from 1965. These brief pieces show a somewhat different side to Persichetti’s musical language as he explores stylistic elements from several other 20th century composers, but within his own distinct compositional framework.

And while the music in and of itself has a lot to offer, this album is particularly noteworthy for the exceptional artistry of the two players. Their technique and musicality are striking.

AUSPICIOUS CD DEBUT BY SEAN CHEN

SEAN CHEN, PIANO; “La Valse” (Steinway & Sons) ****

Sean Chen is a young American pianist with a promising career ahead of him. The winner of several recent competitions, including third place at last year’s Van Cliburn competition, Chen has been making waves wherever he has played.

The 25-year-old has just released his first album, and it’s spectacular. Focusing on some of the earlier works of Scriabin and Ravel, Chen displays his versatility, technical mastery, musicality and interpretative skills to the fullest. It’s an auspicious recorded debut and one can only hope there will be many more CDs from this talented young artist.

There are three works by Scriabin in this album: the Valse in A flat major, op. 38; and the Fourth and Fifth Piano Sonatas. It’s an absolute delight hearing him move from the lush romanticism of the Valse and Fourth Sonata to the more expansive and vigorous harmonic vocabulary of the Fifth. His playing is assertive and he shows that he has a solid grasp of the music.

As good as the Scriabin selections are, the real payoff is the Ravel. Chen offers a nice sampling of the composer’s works, including the Menuet antique, Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn and the brief Prélude.

The real showstoppers, though, are the Valses nobles et sentimentales and Chen’s own arrangement of La valse. In each of these pieces, Chen captures the sweeping lines and pungent harmonies with his sensitive and perceptive playing.

His account of the Valse nobles et sentimentales is particularly noteworthy for his meticulously crafted phrasings and clean lyricism. This is one of the best performances of this piece on CD.

And La valse is memorable for Chen’s virtuosic playing which he deftly modulates with finely molded expressiveness.

This album makes a perfect addition to one’s CD collection.

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(Sean Chen will be in recital on March 20 at Utah State University’s Wassermann Festival. He will also hold a master class on March 21. For information and tickets log on to the festival website at www.arts.usu.edu/wassermann/.

To find out more about this year’s Wassermann Festival click here to read Edward Reichel’s interview with festival director Dennis Hirst.)