Piano Music of Salonen, Stucky & Lutoslawski

Witold Lutoslawski (Composer), Esa-Pekka Salonen (Composer), Steven Stucky (Composer), Gloria Cheng (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Gloria Cheng
• Composer: Witold Lutoslawski, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Steven Stucky
• Audio CD (July 22, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B0019QEY4W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #110,946 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Gloria Cheng, Piano Music of Salonen, Stucky & Lutoslawski

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant program of surprising delights, October 22, 2008

By	Ryan Morris "classical terrorist" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

As far as I know[I do not have the booklet] this is the first recording of the Lutoslawski Piano Sonata. And what a debut it is!!! Its style might be considered like late Prokofiev's sonata's[a mix of the eight and nine] mixed in with an unexpected[for Luto] lyricism and beauty. This is obviously before Luto found his own voice, though there are hints of it. Regardless of anything external, this is a marvelous sonata, no matter who composed it, or when, or why.
The other dominant work here is Dichotomie, composed by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Salonen has revealed himself to be a composer with an incredible ear for sonority, orchestration, and effect. Dichotomie is, basically a piano reduction of his orchestral work Foreign Bodies[an excellent and compelling work]. Again, I would suggest it has an affintiy to Prokofiev with its driving toccata-like rhythms, though on an entirely more complex level. I would be curious to know whether the orchestral FB came first, or this. It also reminds me of Stravinksy in a sense. Again, this is music that is connected, continous, and accessible-no blimp, bloop, disconnected chords smashes. Everyone can listen and enjoy.
Salonen contributes two other pieces, YTA II and Three Preludes. The three preludes are interesting, though perhaps not as individual or initialy penetrating as Dichotomie or the Sonata. Of much interest to Salonen fans and also those who are loving the fact that good music is being written for the piano again.
Some of my favourite works on this disc are Steven Stucky's Four Albums[scenes?}. Again, it is remarkable how consistent and interrelated this entire program is. It is astonishing and worthy of the highest praise that Cheng recognized the compatibility of Lutoslawski, Stucky, and Salonen, especially considering there is a forty year[or more] gap in the compositions. Recommended for all, especially those looking for new music to enjoy and for those who think that all new music is ugly or void of emotion or kitschy.
And the playing is sensational. Bye.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easier listening than you'd think, January 28, 2009

By	David Thierry "[e-mail]" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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Really not difficult music at all. In fact, most of the pieces sound like Debussy which was a pleasant surprise. There are some pieces that sound more like Stravinsky in his neo-classical period. Very well played. I was quite pleased with the disc.