Jonathan Leshnoff: Symphony No. 3 & Piano Concerto (Live)

"... This tops my 2021 Want List for sure."

“…It [Piano Concerto] is often joyous and filled with glittering passagework. The composer’s devotion to Jewish liturgy is always present. Ms Yang’s technique is assured…”

“… Music which is both approachable and exciting from a significant composer.”

"... Leshnoff's Piano Concerto was written for Joyce Yang, who plays it with considerable élan... Michael Stern secures fine performances from the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, captured in nice, clear sound."

“Unashamedly lyrical music … The Third Symphony packs an emotional punch thanks in part to its First World War inspiration; the soulful Piano Concerto enthrals.” ****

“… Leshnoff has entrusted the two touching texts to the baritone voice. Stephen Powell sings them very emotionally and is supported by Michael Stern with exciting orchestral playing. This symphony is truly a valuable piece of music and as original as it is well written. Highly recommended!” ****

“… I am delighted that the label have now released a further disc of Leshnoff’s music – his Piano Concerto and Symphony No. 3 – both of which are also World Premiere recordings… The opening of the work’s [Piano Concerto] four movements presents a majestic (and attractively memorable) theme that is developed with increasing energy and dazzling pianism by soloist and orchestra in the manner of a grand romantic concerto before reaching a humorously abrupt ending… The final two movements are a brief witty scherzo and a lively energetic finale, both of which allow ample opportunity for the brilliant Joyce Yang to display her virtuosity, which she does with tremendous panache, while Michael Stern and the Kansas City Symphony provide marvellously alert support. Like the Piano Concerto Leshnoff’s Symphony No. 3 was a commission by the Kansas City Symphony … it would be impossible to over praise Stephen Powell’s singing of the texts. Powell is possessed of a superbly resonant and firm baritone voice that he uses with great sensitivity to communicate the pathos of the words. Music as fastidiously composed as this warrants a recording of the highest quality and certainly receives it from the Soundmirror team of Dirk Sobotka and Mark Donahue. They have captured with unerring skill both the fine acoustic ambience of the Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the superb playing of the Kansas City Symphony… I recommend it unreservedly.”

“…  In typically wide-ranging Reference Recordings sound, here are two of the composer’s most impressive works, and the Third Symphony in particular will be relished by those who admire such 20th-century composers as Vaughan Williams, Walton and Copland. It is music of great authority (inspired by World War I letters home, with texts sung by baritone Stephen Powell), with an equal tempering of drama and beauty, strikingly performed by the Kansas City Symphony under Michael Stern...”