| FLAUTOPIA WORKS FOR FLUTE & PIANO TANYA DUSEVIC WITEK flute Charles Foreman piano $14.95 ~ MS1161 MSR Classics to order please go to: http://www.msrcd.com/1161/1161.html |
The pieces by Martinů, Schulhoff, Reinecke and
Janáček included on this recording are close to
my heart for many reasons. Martinů’s phrasing
echoes the rhythm of the Czech language and I
have a great fondness for the uneven,
conversational quality of Martinů’s melodies -
perhaps because of my own Slavic ancestry. His
affinity for the flute is unmistakable, making this
work very gratifying to play. The recently
rediscovered Sonata for Flute and Piano by
Schulhoff is a gem within the flute repertoire.
Glimpses of Slavonic folk style, jazz and
impressionism characterize Schulhoff’s writing,
and the exploration of his Sonata infused this
recording project with a refreshing energy. While
the Schulhoff is a recent discovery for me, the
Reinecke Sonata "Undine" has been a favorite
piece since my childhood. The tale of the water
nymph who longs to become human has always
captivated my imagination, and the soaring
romantic melodies are perfectly suited to the flute.
The recording concludes with a short piccolo and
piano piece by Janáček entitled Pochod Modráčků
(March of the Blue Breasts). I first encountered
this material when I was playing the important
woodwind chamber work Mládi (Youth). The small
scale piccolo piece appears rather
inconsequential on its own; however, within the
context of the larger work the material assumes
more significance, representing substantial
memories from Janáček’s youth. The composers
on this recording have many indirect historical,
biographical and musical relationships; most
importantly, all of the works celebrate the spirit of
the flute.
* * *
Pianist Charles Foreman has been equally
praised for his superb musicianship, formidable
technique, vast repertoire, and imaginative
programming. Foreman will begin Canada’s first
complete cycle of the piano works of Chopin in
2006. He recently completed his first cycle of the
thirty-two Beethoven sonatas, to sold-out houses
and standing ovations. In 2001, Foreman
concluded his "Sounds of a Century" project, ten
recitals of twentieth-century piano music, one for
each decade, which the Calgary Herald called
"monumental…heroic… illuminating." Foreman
made his debut with the Chicago Civic Orchestra
under David Gilbert, playing the Brahms B-flat
Concerto. He has won prizes in Canadian and U.
S. piano competitions, received two Canada
Council grants for study and performance in
Europe, performed numerous times with
orchestras, and played over five hundred solo
and chamber recitals in Austria, Belgium,
Germany, Holland, Spain, Switzerland, Canada,
and the U.S. He has recorded over a dozen CDs
for Unical, Antes Edition, Arktos and Centrediscs.
A Chicago native and scholarship student of
Rudolf Reuter at the American Conservatory, he
holds degrees from Indiana University and the
University of Toronto, where he studied with
Abbey Simon and Anton Kuerti. A professor at the
University of Calgary, he was a Visiting Scholar at
the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2002.
Janáček included on this recording are close to
my heart for many reasons. Martinů’s phrasing
echoes the rhythm of the Czech language and I
have a great fondness for the uneven,
conversational quality of Martinů’s melodies -
perhaps because of my own Slavic ancestry. His
affinity for the flute is unmistakable, making this
work very gratifying to play. The recently
rediscovered Sonata for Flute and Piano by
Schulhoff is a gem within the flute repertoire.
Glimpses of Slavonic folk style, jazz and
impressionism characterize Schulhoff’s writing,
and the exploration of his Sonata infused this
recording project with a refreshing energy. While
the Schulhoff is a recent discovery for me, the
Reinecke Sonata "Undine" has been a favorite
piece since my childhood. The tale of the water
nymph who longs to become human has always
captivated my imagination, and the soaring
romantic melodies are perfectly suited to the flute.
The recording concludes with a short piccolo and
piano piece by Janáček entitled Pochod Modráčků
(March of the Blue Breasts). I first encountered
this material when I was playing the important
woodwind chamber work Mládi (Youth). The small
scale piccolo piece appears rather
inconsequential on its own; however, within the
context of the larger work the material assumes
more significance, representing substantial
memories from Janáček’s youth. The composers
on this recording have many indirect historical,
biographical and musical relationships; most
importantly, all of the works celebrate the spirit of
the flute.
* * *
Pianist Charles Foreman has been equally
praised for his superb musicianship, formidable
technique, vast repertoire, and imaginative
programming. Foreman will begin Canada’s first
complete cycle of the piano works of Chopin in
2006. He recently completed his first cycle of the
thirty-two Beethoven sonatas, to sold-out houses
and standing ovations. In 2001, Foreman
concluded his "Sounds of a Century" project, ten
recitals of twentieth-century piano music, one for
each decade, which the Calgary Herald called
"monumental…heroic… illuminating." Foreman
made his debut with the Chicago Civic Orchestra
under David Gilbert, playing the Brahms B-flat
Concerto. He has won prizes in Canadian and U.
S. piano competitions, received two Canada
Council grants for study and performance in
Europe, performed numerous times with
orchestras, and played over five hundred solo
and chamber recitals in Austria, Belgium,
Germany, Holland, Spain, Switzerland, Canada,
and the U.S. He has recorded over a dozen CDs
for Unical, Antes Edition, Arktos and Centrediscs.
A Chicago native and scholarship student of
Rudolf Reuter at the American Conservatory, he
holds degrees from Indiana University and the
University of Toronto, where he studied with
Abbey Simon and Anton Kuerti. A professor at the
University of Calgary, he was a Visiting Scholar at
the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2002.
BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ (1890-1959)
Scherzo (Divertimento)
for Flute and Piano
* * *
ERWIN SCHULHOFF (1894-1942)
Sonata for Flute and Piano
* * *
CARL REINECKE (1824-1910)
Sonata "Undine," Opus 167
* * *
BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ
First Sonata
* * *
LEOŠ JANÁČEK (1854-1928)
Pochod Modráčků
Scherzo (Divertimento)
for Flute and Piano
* * *
ERWIN SCHULHOFF (1894-1942)
Sonata for Flute and Piano
* * *
CARL REINECKE (1824-1910)
Sonata "Undine," Opus 167
* * *
BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ
First Sonata
* * *
LEOŠ JANÁČEK (1854-1928)
Pochod Modráčků
Tanya Dusevic Witek has been the
recipient of many awards in North
America, including The National Arts
Club's Tilden Prize, a Fulbright Grant,
the National Flute Association's Young
Artists' Competition, a Sony ES Award
for Excellence, the McGraw-Hill
Company’s Robert Sherman Award
and several Canada Council Grants.
Ms. Witek has appeared at Marlboro
Music, Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center
and The Banff Festival. She has
toured the U.S. with the acclaimed
"Musicians from Marlboro" ensemble
and is heard on a commemorative
recording celebrating the festival’s
50th anniversary. As principal flute of
the New York Symphonic Ensemble
and a regular guest artist with the
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, she has
toured widely throughout Asia, Europe
and the United States. Ms. Witek has
appeared as soloist at many fine halls
including Alice Tully Hall and Avery
Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, Carnegie’
s Weill Recital Hall, Kioi Hall in Tokyo,
Izumi Hall in Osaka, and The Purcell
Room in London. She has recorded for
EMI, Bridge, Panasonic, CRI, and her
performances have been broadcast on
CBC Radio in Canada, Radio France,
NHK in Japan, as well as WNPR and
WNCN in New York. Deeply committed
to educational outreach, she has
introduced thousands of New York City
public school children to classical
music through her work as a Teaching
Artist for the New York Philharmonic
and Lincoln Center Institute. As a
founding member of the Forest Hills
Chamber Players, Ms. Witek performs
free concerts in community venues in
the outer boroughs of New York City. A
native of Calgary, Canada, Ms. Witek
was educated at The University of
Calgary, The Banff Center, and she
received her master and doctoral
degrees from The Juilliard School. Her
teachers have included Philippa
Fullerton, Carol Wincenc and Samuel
Baron.
recipient of many awards in North
America, including The National Arts
Club's Tilden Prize, a Fulbright Grant,
the National Flute Association's Young
Artists' Competition, a Sony ES Award
for Excellence, the McGraw-Hill
Company’s Robert Sherman Award
and several Canada Council Grants.
Ms. Witek has appeared at Marlboro
Music, Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center
and The Banff Festival. She has
toured the U.S. with the acclaimed
"Musicians from Marlboro" ensemble
and is heard on a commemorative
recording celebrating the festival’s
50th anniversary. As principal flute of
the New York Symphonic Ensemble
and a regular guest artist with the
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, she has
toured widely throughout Asia, Europe
and the United States. Ms. Witek has
appeared as soloist at many fine halls
including Alice Tully Hall and Avery
Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, Carnegie’
s Weill Recital Hall, Kioi Hall in Tokyo,
Izumi Hall in Osaka, and The Purcell
Room in London. She has recorded for
EMI, Bridge, Panasonic, CRI, and her
performances have been broadcast on
CBC Radio in Canada, Radio France,
NHK in Japan, as well as WNPR and
WNCN in New York. Deeply committed
to educational outreach, she has
introduced thousands of New York City
public school children to classical
music through her work as a Teaching
Artist for the New York Philharmonic
and Lincoln Center Institute. As a
founding member of the Forest Hills
Chamber Players, Ms. Witek performs
free concerts in community venues in
the outer boroughs of New York City. A
native of Calgary, Canada, Ms. Witek
was educated at The University of
Calgary, The Banff Center, and she
received her master and doctoral
degrees from The Juilliard School. Her
teachers have included Philippa
Fullerton, Carol Wincenc and Samuel
Baron.