José Serebrier has been mostly known for his work as a conductor, stretching back to the middle of the LP era, but his compositions have earned increasing recognition, and in great old age, he has been happy to fill an increasing demand for them. This release, nominated for a 2020 Grammy Award for Best Compendium, offers a worthwhile survey of this remarkable surge of late-life creativity. The Symphonic B A C H Variations for piano and orchestra and the Flute Concerto with Tango were both commissioned for major performers, ...
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José Serebrier has been mostly known for his work as a conductor, stretching back to the middle of the LP era, but his compositions have earned increasing recognition, and in great old age, he has been happy to fill an increasing demand for them. This release, nominated for a 2020 Grammy Award for Best Compendium, offers a worthwhile survey of this remarkable surge of late-life creativity. The Symphonic B A C H Variations for piano and orchestra and the Flute Concerto with Tango were both commissioned for major performers, pianist Alexandre Kantorow and flutist Sharon Bezaly, respectively. The B A C H Variations and the Laments & Hallelujah for orchestra were both completed in 2018, in Serebrier's 80th year. The Variations are an attractive work, with hints of Copland, Serebrier's teacher, and perhaps Ives, and they are notable in that they reflect few influences from the long tradition of "B A C H" works (they are built on the four notes indicated by the letters of Bach's name, with H signifying B...
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