Carter, E: Figment No. 4 for viola

Violist Hsin-yun Huang presents a fascinating program entitled Viola, Viola on Bridge this month that includes a spectacular reading of British composer George Benjamin’s viola duo of the same name (performed alongside husband Misha Amory).

Also included on the disc are première recordings of new works composed for viola by Steven Mackey (a chamber concerto), a suite for viola and piano by Danish master Poul Ruders and a single-movement “remembrance” for viola and orchestra by Taiwanese composer Shih-Hui Chen. In addition, Huang performs Elliott Carter's Figment IV, composed during the composer's 100th year.

In celebration of Elliott Carter's 101st birthday, Bridge Records is pleased to release The Music of Elliott Carter, Vol. 8 (16 Compositions, 2002-2009), a two disc set focusing on Carter's most recent work.

The sixteen works to be released include solo, chamber, vocal and orchestral music, and are première recordings. Bridge's Elliott Carter Edition is the largest ongoing recording project devoted to the music of Elliott Carter.

Accustomed to singular journeys and daring propositions, Christophe Desjardins now offers us a veritable comprehensive survey devoted to his instrument. Viola/Multiples, a double-CD set, reflects a large portion of his activity as a performer: his fruitful collaboration with today’s leading composers and an ever-renewed desire to decompartmentalise genres and repertoires. The first disc, Solo, invites us to stroll through the 20th century, visiting masterpieces for solo viola, from Hindemith to Berio. The second disc, Multiples, uses contemporary works mixed with pieces of early music. Christophe Desjardins gives us a world première recording of Pierre Boulez’s Messagesquisse but also increasing his instrument in other ways, creating dialogues between Gilles Binchois and Jonathan Harvey, Carlo Gesualdo and Wolfgang Rihm.