Nimrod Borenstein - Piano Concerto; Shirim; Light & Darkness (Clélia Iruzun)

Information

Composer: Nimrod Borenstein

• Concerto for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 91
• Light and Darkness, Op. 80
• Shirim, Op. 94

Clélia Iruzun, piano

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 

Nimrod Borenstein, conductor

I Musicanti

    Tamás András violin

    Robert Smissen viola

    Ursula Smith cello

    Leon Bosch double bass

Date: 2023

Label: SOMM Recordings

https://somm-recordings.com/recording/nimrod-borenstein-piano-concerto-shirim-light-and-darkness/

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Review

This album provides an excellent opportunity to hear three recent works by the Israeli-French-British composer Nimrod Borenstein, all of which showcase his writing for piano. Composed for Clélia Iruzun in 2021, the Piano Concerto follows the traditional formula of two faster outer movements framing a slower central one, although very frequent contrasts of tempo and mood are a feature throughout. Louder passages are often turbulent and impassioned, although not especially discordant; quieter passages are, by contrast, frequently lyrical and feature delicate high notes from the piano that suggest the sound of raindrops. Iruzun’s delivery of the complex solo part is most persuasive, and Borenstein’s conducting brings vivid playing from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Also dating from 2021, Shirim is a set of 18 piano miniatures that takes its name from a Hebrew word meaning ‘poems’ or ‘songs’. The cycle can be performed either partially or with all the pieces included, as recorded here. Although Borenstein describes them as being entirely different from one another, many of the slower pieces share a dreamy, poetic nature, while rhythmic complexity and emotional turbulence are common to a number of the faster ones. Nevertheless, the cycle is sufficiently inventive to maintain the listener’s interest over its half-hour span and, as in the concerto, Iruzun proves a committed advocate of the composer’s writing.

Composed in 2018, Light and Darkness is single-movement work for piano quintet. Although only 10 minutes in duration and relatively unvariegated in tempo, it communicates more emotional depth than I perceived in the two longer works, and the scoring is exquisite. It’s difficult to imagine the performance by Iruzun and the players of I Musicanti could be bettered. With an informative booklet note by the composer and first-class sound, this Somm release can be warmly recommended to anyone interested in exploring Borenstein’s work.

-- Christian Hoskins, Gramophone

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Nimrod Borenstein (born 1969) is a British-French-Israeli composer whose music is widely performed throughout Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan. Born in Tel Aviv, he grew up in Paris and studied at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London. Borenstein's substantial catalogue currently numbers over seventy works including orchestral and chamber music as well as vocal and solo instrumental pieces. His works have featured in numerous music venues and festivals across Europe. Vladimir Ashkenazy has been a supporter of Nimrod's music for many years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimrod_Borenstein
https://www.borensteinarts.com/Home.php

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Clelia Iruzun is a Brazilian London-based pianist who was born in Rio de Janeiro. She studied at the School of Music of the University of Rio de Janeiro, then  with Maria Curcio in London and later at the Royal Academy of Music. In 1988, Iruzun made her Wigmore Hall début and since then she has performed all over Europe, Scandinavia, the USA, China and Brazil. She has also appeared several times on radio and television in many countries, including broadcasts for BBC Radio 3. Iruzun was founder of the festival Brazil Three Centuries of Music which aims to showcase Brazilian music in the UK.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clelia_Iruzun
http://www.cleliairuzun.com/?page_id=2&lang=en

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