Classical Musicians Add Their Talents To List Of Area’s Recordings
Inland Northwest classical musicians have been slower to take advantage of the ease with which their rock and country counterparts have gotten their work on tape and compact disc.
The production cost of a classical recording tends to be high because of the demands for clarity and technical perfection. Availability is sometimes a problem, too, because record stores are reluctant to invest in an inventory that would compete with recordings marketed by international recording giants.
Nonetheless, some individual performers and professional groups in and around Spokane have produced interesting, commercially available recordings. Some groups, such as the Spokane String Quartet and Allegro, have recordings on sale at their concerts. And several performing groups from local colleges and universities have recorded in cassette and CD.
The following recordings, by no means an exhaustive list, are some I have found interesting.
Allegro
“Parisian Nights” - Bravura Discs
Allegro, Spokane’s Baroque and Beyond early and not-so-early music specialists, has been the most active in producing recordings, with four already out and an all-Dvorak album to be released later this year. “Parisian Nights” is a lively, virtuosic exploration of trios based on 19th-century French opera performed by oboist David Dutton, bassonist William Davis and fortepianist Beverly Biggs. (Bravura Discs are available at local record stores and from Bravura Discs, 615 W. Cotta, Spokane, 99204-3728. They will send you a catalog, too.)
Allegro
“Christmas with Biggs and Dutton” - Bravura Discs
This is another attractive Allegro offering, including soprano Ann Fennessy and cellist Wayne Smith in some mostly unusual Christmas music by composers such as Leclair, Praetorious and Balbastre along with more familiar staples such as “Greensleeves” and “Silent Night.”
Marimolin
“Combo Platter” - Catalyst
This album opens with “Legal Highs,” a three-movement, jazz-based, minimalist-influenced suite for violin and marimba by EWU composer-in-residence David Jones. The piece is expertly played by Marimolin, the Boston duo of violinist Sharan Leventhal and marimbist Nancy Zeltsman. The album also contains duos by seven other, mostly young, American composers. (Available in local record stores.)
Various artists
“Celebrating Six Years at The Met” - Random Touch AA
This album is a studio version of a sixth anniversary concert given a year ago at the Spokane Metropolitan Performing Arts Center. Solo and chamber music by six composers from the Northwest (Calliope AlmaJane Sol, Gregory Short, Don Caron, Chares Kentfield, Michael Young and Stefan Kozinski) is excellently played by 12 Spokane area performers, many of them associated with the Zepher concert series. The live concert had choreography for one of the pieces and slide projections for another. They are barely missed in this studio version. (Available in some record stores or from Random Touch Records, 6906 N. Lincoln, Spokane 99208).
Barbara Harbach
“Sonatas by Elizabeth” - Hester Park
This charming disc actually contains works by two 18th-century Elizabeths - an Italian, Elisabetta de Gambarini, and an English woman, Elizabeth Hardin. They are elegantly performed by Washington State University harpsichordist Barbara Harbach. (Available at some record stores and from Hester Park, NW 310 Wawawai Road, Pullman 99163-2959).