photo: Ovidiu Marinescu and Carl Cranmer at Weill Recital Hall | credit: Brett Iannucci
New classical music came to life around the world this month, with the live premiere of several new classical works by PARMA artists at Carnegie Hall, and chamber and orchestral recordings in the Czech Republic.
RESURGENCE VOL. 3 at Carnegie Hall
Cellist Ovidiu Marinescu and pianist Carl Cranmer returned to Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall this month with RESURGENCE VOL. 3, a fresh program of contemporary classical music for cello and piano.
Expansive and expressive, these works traverse evocative nocturnal landscapes, heartfelt personal narratives, spirited dances, and lyrical meditations. From atmospheric homage to Chopin to music shaped by friendship, memory, and the natural world, each piece offered a new perspective conveyed through Marinescu’s “strong musical personality” (Strings Magazine) and Cranmer’s “lyrical expressiveness” (The New York Times).
Balancing virtuosity with intimacy, their performance reaffirmed music’s power to capture profound emotions and experiences.
credit: Brett Iannucci
“Everything was wonderful,” said composer Warren Gooch, following the performance.
“The performances were exceptional and it was great to be able to talk in person with Ovidiu and Carl, other composers, audience members and, of course, Bob Lord and other PARMA representatives. The entire evening was perfect. I’m so glad I was a part of it.”
The program featured new music by Gooch and other composers including James Chenevert, Ferdinando DeSena, Ivar Lunde Jr., Sheli Nan, Pierre Schroeder, and John Spence.
“This was a magnificent and intimate venue with superb acoustics,” said Sheli Nan. “The musicians were profound and dedicated and played my music with depth and sensitivity. I salute Bob Lord and the folks at PARMA for producing this gala event.”
Bernard Hoffer and The Czech Trombone Quartet
The production team overseas began recording sessions for June with composer Bernard Hoffer, whose new classical piece Telephone was recorded by The Czech Trombone Quartet and tubist Jakub Chmelař.
“I was happy to be able to sit in on the session,” said Hoffer. “It was wonderful.”
Hoffer is perhaps most well known as the composer who wrote the theme music for MacNeil/Lehrer report — later the PBS News Hour. The theme played until 2005 and the opening logo is still used today. From 1985–1990 he wrote music for cartoons including Thundercats, Silverhawks, and many others.
Octavian Nemescu and Multi Symphony No. 1
June recording sessions concluded at Besední dům Concert Hall with the Brno Philharmonic, who recorded composer Octavian Nemescu’s Multi Symphony No. 1, an hour-long piece that includes organ, large orchestra of 80+ players, and a choir. The piece’s choral component will be recorded by the Kühn Choir of Prague at PARMA’s Studio Martínek at a later date and overdubbed with the orchestral recording.