Anna Dennis - Elena Langer: Landscape With Three People on CD

Description

A selection of chamber works by Elena Langer (b.1974, Moscow), notable for their playful counterpoint and delicate textures. The London-based composer delights in exploring the endless soundworlds of voices and instruments. 'Landscape With Three People' dates from 2013, with texts by poet Lee Harwood. Elena moved to London to complete her degrees first at the Royal College of Music and then at the Royal Academy of Music. She has studied with Julian Anderson, Simon Bainbridge, Gerard McBurney and taken lessons with Sofia Gubaidulina (Centre Acanthes, France), Dmitri Smirnov, Jo Kondo and Jonathan Harvey. In 2002 and 2003 Elena was the first ever composer-in-residence at the Almeida Theatre, London. She has received commissions and performances from organisations such as The Royal Opera House's ROH2, Zurich Opera, Carnegie Hall, The Britten and Strauss Festival in Aldeburgh, Park Lane Group, St. Petersburg's Music Spring, Chamber Music Series 'XX/XXI' of the Bayerische Staatsoper (Germany). This recording project was generously funded by Blyth Valley Chamber Music, the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust and a large number of individuals. The new CD will be launched in parallel with the first public performances in Cardiff of the composer s 'Figaro Gets A Divorce', a new opera for Welsh National Opera under David Pountney. Review **** 'It s nimble and light, sensual without forcing the point, folksy but not quite fey; whimsical, in the deconstructed manner of Berio or Nono. The two voices lilt together in First Love Scene, sultry and restrained while the oboe flits about saying what the signers won t. There s a rapturous duet for oboe and countertenor in His Return; I Hear You is all sighs and quickened breaths. The performance is excellent especially from Dennis, whose voice is beautifully grainy but still laced with metal. Elena Langer writes the sort of music which, even on first hearing, makes me think that I have known it for ever. The music on the disc is all entrancing, with Langer having a wonderful ear for expressively memorable textures. Her performers, including a pair of singers who move between baroque and contemporary music, bring a lovely clarity to the music creating some really magical moments.' 

Tracks

Stay O Sweet, for soprano, oboe, string trio & harpsichord
Ariadne, for soprano, oboe & string trio
Cat Songs (2), for soprano, cello & piano
The Storm Cloud (Tucha), for soprano & piano
Snow, for violin & piano
Landscape with Three People, for soprano, countertenor, oboe, violin, cello & harpsichord