Patricia Michaelian, the pianist on this recording, began piano studies at age three and trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bloch's early works adopted an impressionist manner, similar to Debussy, before he developed a more vigorous and impassioned musical language to express what he called 'the Jewish spirit'.
Performer Biography
Gerard Schwarz, the conductor, was Music Director of the Seattle Symphony from 1985 to 2011 and has a discography of over 300 releases.
Composition History
Bloch's 'America: An Epic Rhapsody' was conceived as a tribute to his adopted country, the United States, and was written for a competition sponsored by 'Musical America' magazine.
Compositional Technique
In 'America: An Epic Rhapsody', Bloch uses a recurring 'America' motif, conveyed in the rhythm and melodic contour of its first four notes, which appears throughout the work.
Compositional Technique
Bloch's Concerto Grosso No. 1, written in 1925, uses the 18th-century concerto grosso form as a model, possibly influenced by Stravinsky's neo-classical compositions.
Composer Biography
Ernest Bloch, a Swiss-born composer, spent most of his life in America and was known for his wide knowledge and experience.
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