Feminissimo! Women playing music by women (CD)

FEMINISSIMO!
Women playing music by women
Albany Records (2008)

Laura Kobayashi, violin | Susan Keith Gray, piano

Laura Kobayashi Susan Keith Gray

The Kobayashi / Gray Duo is in demand throughout the world for their skillful presentations of works by 19th to 21st century women composers. This recording contains character pieces and sonatas for violin and piano, written by both historical and contemporary composers of Spanish, French, Norwegian, American, Polish and Czech heritages. The American works represent African-American and Jewish-American influences.

Meira Warshauer: Bracha
Grazyna Bacewicz: Sonata No. 3
Florence Price: The Deserted Garden
Signe Lund: Barcarolle, Op. 33, No. 1
Anna Priscilla Risher: Mazurka Brillante
Emma Lou Diemer: Before Spring
Pauline Viardot-Garcia: Six Morceaux
Vitezslava Kapralova: Elegie
Elisenda Fábregas: Sonata No. 1

Albany Records, CD TROY 1081. 71'48''. Date of release: 12/09/2008.
Available from amazon.com and arkiv music.

From reviews:

Kobayashi and Gray successfully span the variety of styles the program offers, playing the older, drawing-room pieces with glowing sound and moist sensibility and slashing sharply in the more modern ones. Recommended more widely than to those who simply wish to explore music written by women. | Robert Maxham for Fanfare, April 2, 2009.

The collaboration, balance, and dynamic of the two musicians are a joy to hear... | Heather K. Scott for Strings Magazine, April 2009.

Throughout, Kobayashi shows some richly varied tone colours and Gray lends sensitive support...worthwhile for its unexpected treasures. | Catherine Nelson for The Strad, June 2009.

Laura Kobayashi on violin and Susan Keith Gray on piano form a strong, well-matched pair, clearly up to the considerable demands placed on them in technique, expressivity, and stylistic playing... | Nadine Sine for the IAWM Journal 2 (Fall 2009).