STRAVINSKY:
Suite from L'Histoire du Soldat
Works
by BARTOK, BENSHOOF * & CORAY
*
ALASKA PRO
MUSICA
Mark Wolbers, clarinet
Walter Olivares, violin
Timothy Smith, piano
* WORLD PREMIERE RECORDINGS
$14.95 ~ MS1230
"[the Alaska Pro Music] let loose...reveling in Benshoof's spiky rhythms
and jazzy idiom; at the same time, though, they bring an appropriate sense of
serenity to the poetic slow movements...The group sells [Sanctuary] well, and
the dark ending leaves quite an impression on the listener."
American
Record Guide ~ July / August 2008
"The first thing which impresses about the opening moments of the CD is the
immediacy and brilliance of the recording...Alaska Pro Musica give the
five movements [of the Stravinsky] plenty of gusty grit and rhythmic drive.
Walter Olivares’ violin is the star, and it provides the necessary quasi-vocal
effects which bring much of the music to life, muttering and singing often
almost to itself as the other instruments accompany and commentate.
A
Whimsical Solution by Ken Benshoof was commissioned by this trio, and as you
might expect receives a sensitive performance. There are four fairly short
movements, each with a ‘whimsical’ title: Simple, which has lyrical
charm as well as atmosphere and some drama; Snappy, which has some
Messiaen-like octaves within a swinging rhythmic idiom, followed up by walking
bass lines in the piano and improvisatory melodies in the other soloists. Quirky
is more sparing in its distribution of notes, creating a bleaker landscape,
but still one with a certain amount of emotional warmth and approachability.
This moves straight on into another jazzy number called Ramblin’, full
of little Charleston ostinati, and finishing this attractive work on a positive
up-beat into which elements of the other movements are worked.
Craig Coray’s Sanctuary was also premiered by Alaska Pro Musica. The
title interweaves ‘a musical homage to wild places’ with the concept of
sanctuary as a place of refuge, and in the family unit in a similar sense –
the personalities of the composer’s wife and two daughters playing their part
in the character of the music. This is more introspective in nature to
Benshoof’s work, and even the more animated sections have that sense of
enclosed space appropriate to the title and themes. The music can be lyrical,
having a strong harmonic sense...
... this is an interesting programme, and certainly worth investigating. The
Stravinsky performance and recording is a real gem, the two newcomers are worthy
additions..."
MusicWeb
International ~ June 2008
"The
Pro Musica trio...are thoroughly professional and the four selections make a
fine chamber music program."
Audiophile
Audition ~ April 2008
*
* *
Alaska
Pro Musica is a faculty
ensemble from the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). The musicians, violinist
Walter Olivares, pianist Timothy Smith, and clarinetist Mark Wolbers, were each
selected through national searches by the University for their unique
combination of exceptional performance and educational skills. Alaska Pro Musica
has captivated audiences with performances since the trio’s founding in 1994,
and has performed on three tours to Chile, South America. A review of their
performance at the Semanas Musicales international music festival in Frutillar,
Chile, declared that it the "best concert" of the chamber music
series.
Clarinetist
Mark Wolbers
received his early instruction with the late Evelyn Angerman, and later with
Fred Ormand and John Mohler. His Doctor of Musical Arts degree in clarinet
performance was earned from the University of Michigan where he also served as
Associate Conductor of the U of M Youth Band and Wind Ensemble under the
mentorship of Larry Rachleff. As a chamber musician, Wolbers has performed with
the Fontana Ensemble, Sitka Music Festival, Cross Sound, DeVere and Southwest
String Quartets and performs annually at the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra Summer
Music Festival. He is conductor of the University of Alaska Anchorage Wind
Ensemble, and is a frequent guest artist, adjudicator and clinician for honor
bands and festivals.
Violinist
Walter Olivares
has been hailed by the press in the United States and abroad as a musician who
"can do anything with the violin, erotic, caressing tone". A native of
Chile, Mr. Olivares gave his solo debut at the age of 15. A protégé of maestro
Zoltan Fischer, he finished the seven-year harmony, solfège and counterpoint
program at an early age and was awarded a full scholarship by a member of the
Peace Corp to study with Dr. James Barber, Ivan Galamian and Raphael Bronstein
in the United States. His debut at Carnegie Recital Hall was described by Tim
Page of The New York Times as "the last word in refinement, lean dark
tone". Olivares’ students perform and teach in the United States, Italy
and the Czech Republic.
Pianist
Timothy Smith
has studied with Bela Siki and Martin Canin. In his youth, he was accepted for
entry into and attended the pre-college division of the Juilliard School in New
York City. He holds degrees from the University of Washington (BA, BM),
the Juilliard School (MM), and S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook (DMA). A winner of major
prizes in international competitions, including the Robert Casadesus, Gina
Bachauer and others, Smith has performed across the United States and toured
Asia on many occasions, including nearly 50 concerts in Japan and Korea, a
concert tour across northern China, a recital in the large concert hall in
Beijing's Forbidden City, and a performance with the China National Symphony
Orchestra in Beijing that was broadcast nationally over China Central
Television. Timothy Smith is a Steinway concert artist.
