STEPHEN ALBERT (1941-1992)

 

Symphony No. 1 ‘RiverRun’

 

I. Rain Music

II. Leafy Speafing

III. Beside the Rivering Waters

IV. Rivers End

 

Symphony No. 2 *

 

*World Première Recording

 

*Orchestration completed by Sebastian Currier

 

Russian Philharmonic Orchestra / Paul Polivnick

 

Stephen Albert’s music is both traditional and contemporary, lyrical, powerful and dynamic. He drew inspiration from the rich orchestral palettes of composers such as Stravinsky and Bartók, but his musical language is very much his own.

 

At the time of his tragic and unexpected death in 1992, Albert had completed the first draft of his lush, evocative Symphony No. 2, which here receives its world première recording. Asked by Albert’s publishers to complete the work, his colleague and friend Sebastian Currier was pleased to find it almost finished, with only the addition of expressive markings and some orchestration to undertake.

 

It is coupled here with Albert’s Pulitzer Prize-winning first symphony, River Run, one of many of his works inspired by the writings of James Joyce. As Currier writes in his booklet note, “Although one could endlessly wonder what his Third Symphony might be like, in the end it is great to have these two thoughtful, finely crafted and expressive pieces.”

 

Naxos 8559257