The premiere of Samuel Barber's Piano Sonata was performed by Vladimir Horowitz, an internationally renowned virtuoso, at Carnegie Hall in 1950.
Composer Biography
Seymour Bernstein, the composer of "Birds, Books 1 and 2," is an internationally renowned pianist.
Performer Biography
Lisa Caliri, the performer on this album, has concertized worldwide and received top prizes in piano competitions, including the Pinault International Piano Competition.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Seymour Bernstein created his "Birds" pieces to be expressive, attractive impressions of birds, aiming to capture their feelings rather than imitate the birds themselves.
Composition History
George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" was commissioned by Paul Whiteman for a concert of new American music in New York City in 1924.
Notable Performances
The premiere of "Rhapsody In Blue" featured Paul Whiteman conducting his band and George Gershwin himself as the piano soloist.
Composition History
Samuel Barber's Sonata for Piano, Op. 26, was commissioned by The League of Composers, a society promoting new music, for their twenty-fifth anniversary.
