Scott Ballantyne, the cellist on this recording, made his New York debut at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, described by a critic as 'one of the most impressive events I have seen in over thirty years of concert going'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Frank Ezra Levy's musical approach was shaped by his teacher Hugo Kauder, a brilliant composer who emphasized Renaissance masters, and his father Ernst Levy, a formidable pianist and composer.
Composer Biography
Frank Ezra Levy, the composer, is the son of the distinguished Swiss composer, pianist, and teacher Ernst Levy.
Compositional Technique
Frank Ezra Levy's music often uses a 'kaleidoscopic variation' structural approach, where an opening melody generates variations that dissect, develop, and rearrange the material.
Instruments
Scott Ballantyne, the cellist, plays an instrument made for Leonard Rose by David Wiebe, which is considered one of the finest made by this contemporary master.
Composer Biography
Frank Ezra Levy, the composer, is still a professional cellist and continues to compose, with 88 published works including four symphonies and eight concertos.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Frank Ezra Levy's music is influenced by Bartók and Janáček, but his most powerful influences remain his father Ernst Levy and teacher Hugo Kauder, whose dedication to tonality and linear counterpoint shaped his style.
