Glass, P: Façades

Virtuoso flutist Massimo Mercelli teams up with Virtuosi Italiani and pianist Carlo Boccadoro to present this recital of works by Philip Glass.

This recording features two world premieres including Chaotic Harmony and Taoist Sacred Dance. The rest of the program is dedicated to Glass classics: Facades in two different versions, and String Quartet No. 3 Mishima.

Widely known in Europe, Mercelli is artistic director and founder of the Emilia Romagna Festival and tours regularly as a soloist, including two tours with I Virtuosi Italiani.

The pianist, conductor, and composer is a long-time champion of new music and has released prominent recordings by Philip Glass and Michael Nyman among others.

This is a 2CD set of repertoire from the Philip Glass Ensemble’s 40-year career. Previously released as an iTunes only download, this is a live recording from a concert in Monterey Mexico in March 2004.

Minimalism was originally the word used to describe certain movements in the visual arts and design of the immediate post World War II period. Then, from the 60s, its use was extended to take in new developments in music, most notably in American concert music and specifically that of La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich and Philip Glass. Musical minimalism relies on repetition, insistent rhythm and gradual transformation. Basically tonal in outlook minimalism can be seen as a reaction against European serialism.

Christine Hoock is a versatile virtuoso. She can be heard in the most varied constellations in classical music, world music and jazz. Concert tours have taken her all around the world. Today, Christine Hoock is Professor of Double Bass at the Mozarteum University Salzburg. She plays an English instrument by William Tarr built in 1848.