Linda Kouvaras: Instrumental Music, Chamber Works and Songs, Volume One
As with many other Australian composers, the music of Linda Kouvaras (b. 1960) has a strong sense of wide-open spaces, expressed in lyrical, elegiac melodic lines that soar over freewheeling Lisztian piano textures and atmospheric echoes of French Impressionism. In this first album of a series presenting all of her instrumental works, chamber music and songs written since 1991, she also addresses two major contemporary issues, with a duo for saxophone and piano exploring the human response to the COVID-19 pandemic and a song-cycle confronting domestic violence from a woman’s viewpoint.
Justin Kenealy, saxophone
Linda Barcan, mezzo-soprano
Coady Green, piano
Listen To This Recording:
Three St Kilda Sketches for solo piano (1994/1997)*
- No. 1, Andante (5:02)
- No. 2, Dark, manic, turbulent (2:52)
- No. 3, Animato (4:18)
Night Pieces: Reflections after COVID-19 for soprano saxophone and piano (2020) (25:28)
- I. Shelter in Place (4:45)
- II. Isolation (6:04)
- III. Reach-Out (4:42)
- IV. Elegy (4:27)
- V. Hope
Art and Life: Song-Cycle for mezzo-soprano and piano (1999) (20:32)
- I. Sleeping Girl (4:09)
- II. Lullaby for Kyle* (2:32)
- III. Woman’s Predicament (6:37)
- IV. Party Lines and Deaf Ears (1:44)
- V. Art and Life* (6:53)
- VI. Distant Lullaby* (1:59)
- Shoalhaven Nightpainters for solo piano (2001-2) (12:35)
Linda Kouvaras :
https://limelight-arts.com.au/reviews/linda-kouvaras-chamber-works-and-songs-volume-1-justin-kenealy-linda-barcan-coady-green/
limelight-art.com :
‘this album should be considered definitive. It is certainly beautifully performed by Green, who is joined by saxophonist Justin Kenealy for Night Pieces: Reflections after COVID-19, five diverse, short pieces written during Melbourne’s multiple lockdowns and for me the highlight of the album. […]
[Art and Life song cycle] features the excellent mezzo Linda Barcam who brings these powerful and moving settings very much to life.’
—Steve Moffatt, limelight-art.com
Linda Kouvaras :
https://classicmelbourne.com.au/linda-kouvaras-instrumental-music-chamber-works-and-songs-vol-1/
Classic Melbourne :
Here is an album which will become your essential “go to” drive-time music, especially for long travel at night, or when you simply need especially beautiful music. The replay button will need to be close by. […] This first album creates a truly Australian atmosphere, where her music and poetry are expressive and intelligently structured works performed by her internationally recognised colleagues: Coady Green, piano, Justin Kenealy, saxophone, and Linda Barcan, mezzo-soprano.
Three St Kilda Sketches (1994/97) for solo piano brings a magical iridescence of sound with gentle starry night phrases, thoughtful resonance and echoes setting a romantic and tranquil scene. No 1 Andante is a most captivating night-piece with clarity and freshness in the calm night air. No 2 Dark, Manic, Turbulent conjures the spontaneity of sweeping ocean waves against higher chords, restless and searching, energetic and natural. No 3 Animato is a most virtuosic piano work, at times a rhapsodic and shimmering piece expressing the changing moods and dynamism of those inner city places with an edgy and exciting nightlife. […]
Night Pieces: Reflections after COVID-19 (2020) for soprano sax and piano are five pieces that are exemplary in tonal production, showing the Duo’s excellent musical rapport, in engaging and soulful contemporary Australian composition. The first, <me.MShelter In Place, highlights Kenealy’s superb pitch and evocative tone in beautiful penetrating melodic illustrations. In Isolation, the solo sax opening theme is haunting and sensual, gently expanding its search for cadence and destination. The piano first enters in “isolation” with light chordal accompaniment and lyrical simplicity, offering a steady rhythmic partnership, human togetherness and musical companionship. You will want to press that replay button again for this magical piece.
Reach Out is a most appealing contemporary ballad style, engaging, evocative and tender. […] Elegy offers a lilting and sensitive piano accompaniment for the sweet, sad chromaticism of soprano sax in another beautiful and soulful recording. Kouvaras has given the fifth Night Piece, Hope, positive assertive opening chords, with both instruments rising intermittently and repeatedly, exploring new horizons until grandiose piano chords and double octaves lead the Duo to a surprising, gently satisfying closing sigh.
In Art & Life: Song Cycle for mezzo-soprano (1999) mezzo-soprano Linda Barcan gives a very powerful and affective voice to the situations and deep feelings surrounding the hopes and predicaments in women’s lives. Six art songs offer fine poetry and emotive, honest text, passionately voiced by Barcan’s authoritative and passionate communication and clear articulation, with Green’s most sympathetic piano accompaniment and partnership. […]
With the second album (of this 8-part series) to be released soon, this is a significantly rich and rewarding gift from a prolific Australian contemporary composer.’
—Julie McErlain, Classic Melbourne
Klassisk Musikk :
‘Full av delikate, dempede farger (ikke ulike den første St Kilda Sketch), og fantastisk spilt av Green, er dette langt på vei det verket som utmerker seg på platen, musikk av enestående klanglig skjønnhet. […]
Saksofonist Justin Kenealy har en sterk lyrisk klang og spiller hvert stykke med sikker intonasjon; Coady Green akkompagnerer på eksemplarisk vis. […]
Barcans fremførelse er sterk. […] Barcans fremførelse er sterk.’
English translation:
‘Full of delicate, muted colours (not unlike the first St Kilda Sketch), and superbly played by Green, this is by far the standout work on the album, music of exceptional tonal beauty. […]
Saxophonist Justin Kenealy has a strong lyrical tone and plays each piece with assured intonation; Coady Green accompanies in exemplary fashion. […]
Barcan’s performance is strong. […] Barcan’s performance is strong.’
—Guy Rickards, Klassisk Musikk
Fanfare :
‘[The Three St. Kilda Sketches is] all very evocative and effective. Pianist Coady Green really whips off the work in stunning fashion, being undaunted by the cascades of notes that the composer hurls at him. […]
I found this half-hour suite, magnificently presented by the two performers (who also commissioned it), a powerful reminder that we human beings are not in ultimate control of our lives. And yes, the quality of hope does peep through the last, thus-titled movement, including the transition from the last minor chord into a major one.
[…] [Shoalhaven Nightpainters] the work successfully engages the listener throughout its 12-minute duration. […]
In sum, throughout the entire recital, Linda Kouvaras demonstrates that she is a composer with an original tonal compositional voice who has important things to tell us. Solidly recommended.’
—David DeBoor Canfield, Fanfare