Winging It: Piano Music of John Corigliano

Featuring

Ursula Oppens
Jerome Lowenthal
John Corigliano Jr.

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Compositional Technique

John Corigliano's "Chiaroscuro" for two pianos is unique because the pianos are tuned a quarter-tone apart, creating eerie effects and dissonances.

Performer Biography

Ursula Oppens, one of the pianists on this recording, is known for programming traditional and contemporary works in equal measure and has premiered countless compositions.

Composer Biography

John Corigliano, the composer of the works on this album, won an Academy Award for Best Original Score in 1999 for the film "The Red Violin."

Performer Biography

Jerome Lowenthal, the other pianist on this recording, studied with notable figures like Olga Samaroff-Stokowski, William Kapell, Edward Steuermann, and Alfred Cortot.

Composition History

John Corigliano's "Fantasia on an Ostinato" was commissioned by the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1985 as a competition piece.

Recording & Production

This album is a world premiere recording of John Corigliano's "Winging It: Improvisations for piano."

Composer's Artistic Vision

For his "Fantasia on an Ostinato," John Corigliano deliberately constructed the piece to test performers' imagination and musicality, rather than just technical skill.