(The following was emailed to Robert and Steve Sherman and CCd to Thereminworld)
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Hello gentlemen,
The new CD, "Music In and On the Air," arrived Friday. I have been wanting all weekend to stop everything to sit down and listen to it with undivided attention but couldn't do so until this afternoon.
I literally sat here transfixed. Then I listened to it again, and it's playing a third time as I am writing this email to you.
Oh my goodness, what a priceless gem is this recording! It's truly wonderful, as you pointed out toward the end of the broadcast, to hear Clara playing in a live performance. It's one thing to hear her on recordings, but quite another to hear her live. It's pure musical magic.
Her virtuoso musicality and refined musicianship shine on this CD, and it's just an absolute thrill to hear her playing in ensemble with the string players. The Bach "Air on a G String" and the Villa-Lobos "Bachianas Brasileiras" were especially thrilling and inspiring.
And, of course, it is wonderful to hear her playing with Nadia Reisenberg. Their rendition of Cassado's "Requiebros" is nothing short of stunning. I've heard a couple different recordings of them playing this, which are all beyond reproach, but in this recording they are at their finest with an absolutely spine-tingling performance.
You wrote in the liner notes, "If only we could locate somebody who recorded her playing of Ernest Bloch's 'Schelomo' with the Philadelphia Orchestra..." I'll add to that my wish, "If only we could locate somebody who recorded her playing of the Franck Violin Sonata" -- "All four movements!" as she used to exclaim.
Thank you SO MUCH for making this recording possible. I certainly shall cherish it.
I hope all is well,
~
CRL