With the international success of his operas and symphonic works during the past decade, the Danish composer Poul Ruders has been acclaimed as a major figure in today’s musical world.
Volume 6 of Bridge’s Poul Ruders series presents the première recordings of recent solo, chamber and orchestral compositions. The newest work is Ruders's Piano Concerto No. 2, a brilliant 24-minute composition in three movements.
The work was recorded by its first executants, the Russian/American piano virtuoso Vassily Primakov, and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Søndergård. Bel Canto was composed by Ruders for the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition.
Serenade on the Shores of the Cosmic Ocean is arguably Ruders's finest chamber work- a 33 minute, nine movement piece, inspired by the writings of the late Carl Sagan.
“The fount of creative energy that has sustained Poul Ruders since the late 1960s shows no sign of running dry. Or so, at least, this trio of works from the past decade affirms...Imagine [Gubaidulina's] symbolic sound world shot through with the energy of Ligeti and you have some idea of the rewards in store from this marvellous disc, all of which is superbly played and recorded.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2011
Gramophone Awards 2011
Gramophone Magazine
