John Corigliano's father was a violinist in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, which explains Corigliano's idiomatic writing for the instrument.
Composer Biography
John Corigliano, born in 1938, has had a varied career including music programmer for radio, assistant to Leonard Bernstein, and record producer for CBS.
Compositional Technique
Virgil Thomson was a master of the musical miniature, with a large number of 'Portraits' that capture the essence of a personality in music.
Instruments
Philippe Quint performs on a 1723 'Ex-Keisewetter' Antonio Stradivari violin, on loan from Clement and Karen Arrison through the Stradivari Society, Chicago.
Composer Biography
Virgil Thomson, born in 1896, was a student of Nadia Boulanger in Paris and met influential figures like Erik Satie and Jean Cocteau.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Virgil Thomson's music combines French clarity with American nostalgia, often incorporating hymn tunes and traditional songs.
Composition History
John Corigliano won an Oscar for Best Original Score in 1999 for his music for the film The Red Violin.
