Edge of Youth
Edge of Youth
Artist: Janet Sung
Composers: Benjamin Britten, Georges Enescu, Missy Mazzoli, Gabriel Prokofiev, Dan Visconti
Format: 1 CD
DSL-92230
SUNG SESSIONS: Edge of Youth
Edge of Youth represents a time when one starts to discover a new, more mature version of their own voice or self. We find confidence in that voice when we allow ourselves to go to the “edge” of what is known or comfortable. Brought up steeped in the traditions of classical music, and deeply influenced by some of the greatest violinists of the “old world”, this album represents some of that artistic journey for me. In curating this collection of works by masters Britten, Enescu and three young, dynamic living composers, Missy Mazzoli, Dan Visconti and Gabriel Prokofiev, I gravitated toward works that were striking to me and in some ways unexpected—whether it was a new sound world, a new perspective on an old familiar work, or the surprising way certain works profoundly grew in their impact.
Each of these works are dramatic, visceral; even ethereal and otherworldly. Some also have moments of soaring lyricism and intimacy. They both embrace and challenge classical traditions, consciously or subconsciously. With their craft and unique sense of style, these composers challenge the artist to forget about the technicalities of the instrument—asking them to become a storyteller through nuance, shading, and color.
Taking in all of our personal influences, we hopefully take flight into our own artistic vision. These works have taken me on a journey that I will continue to traverse.
—Janet Sung
Janet Sung
Hailed by The Washington Post for her “riveting” playing and “exquisite tone”, violinist Janet Sung’s playing possesses the rare blend of fierce intelligence, subtlety and brilliant virtuosity. She has performed worldwide with orchestras including the Pittsburgh Symphony, Pusan Philharmonic, Göttinger Symphonie Orchester, Omsk Philharmonic, Britten Sinfonia, Cairo Symphony Orchestra (Egypt), and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Festival appearances as concerto and recital soloist include Switzerland's Lucerne Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Britt Festival, Bellingham Festival, and the Conciertos de La Villa Festival de Santo Domingo. A prolific chamber artist, Ms. Sung has regularly appeared at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Kreeger Festival in Washington, D.C., the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and the Newport Music Festival, and is a regular guest with the American Chamber Players and the Finger Lakes Chamber Ensemble.
William Wolfram
Acclaimed American pianist William Wolfram was a silver medalist at both the William Kapell and the Naumburg International Piano Competitions and a bronze medalist at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, and has appeared with many of the greatest orchestras of the world including the Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Saint Louis, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Seattle and New Jersey symphonies, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Grand Teton and San Luis Obispo Mozart festival orchestras.
Track List
Georges Enescu (1881-1955)
Impressions d’enfance (Impressions from Childhood), Op. 28 (1940)
I. Ménétrier (The Fiddler) 3:28
II. Vieux mendiant (The Old Beggar) 2:57
III. Ruisselet au fond du jardin
(The Brook at the Bottom of the Garden) 2:22
IV. L’Oiseau en cage et le coucou au mur
(The Bird in the Cage and the Cuckoo on the Wall) 2:16
V. Chanson pour bercer (Lullaby) 1:52
VI. Grillon (The Cricket) :23
VII. Lune à travers les vitres
(The Moon Shining Through the Windows) 2:17
VIII. Vent dans la cheminée (Wind in the Chimney) :25
IX. Tempête au dehors, dans la nuit (Storm Outside in the Night) 2:03
X. Lever de soleil (Sunrise) 3:30
Missy Mazzoli (b. 1980)
Dissolve, O My Heart for Solo Violin (2011) 7:24
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 6 (1935)
I. Introduction. Andante maestoso :32
II. March. Allegro alla marcia 2:42
III. Moto perpetuo. Allegro molto e con fuoco 3:21
IV. Lullaby. Lento tranquillo 4:49
V. Waltz. Alla Valse: Vivace e rubato 5:03
Dan Visconti (b. 1982)
Rave-Up for Violin and Piano (2012) 4:15
Gabriel Prokofiev (b. 1975)
Sleeveless Scherzo for Solo Violin (2007) 8:41
Total time: 58:17
Release date: April 26, 2019
UPC: 053479223029
Quotes & Reviews
…it's time for the other fiddling ladies to move over and give this newcomer her rightful due in standing toe to toe with them….Smashing stuff throughout, this is the next star you'll be celebrating.
Chris Spector, Midwest Record
…an impressive and highly enjoyable album.
Tal Agam, The Classical Review
…a moment of transformation—from young, precocious prodigy to mature adult artist.
Megan Westberg, Strings
…she possesses an unerring command of tone, vibrato, and pitch, and her playing on the recording is so riveting, one's attention is evenly split between the compositions and the musician bringing them to life.
This stellar sampling of Sung's artistry shows that her virtuosity isn't only a matter of her remarkable technical facility but also her ability to distill the emotional essence of a piece into lustrous physical form.
Ron Schepper, Textura
An engaging program and technically unimpeachable playing promise great things…
James Manheim, All Music
Her violin soars and climbs to the heavens in music that has gestural heft well beyond the Romantics, that instead enters realms that are in their way inimitable…
Janet Sung has a true musical personality on violin and she and Wolfram form a wonderful rapport in this very appealing set of works both earthy and sophisticated.
Grego Applegate Edwards, Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review
Janet Sung, assisted by pianist William Wolfram, gives an intriguing, technically awesome, and frequently moving program of works by two great 20th century composers and three up-coming contemporaries. The music is often very demanding, for artists and listeners alike.
Phil Muse, Atlanta Audio Club
…her playing possesses the rare blend of fierce intelligence, subtlety and brilliant virtuosity.
Kerry Frumkin, WFMT
“Sung possesses an exquisite tone.”
