The Murasaki Duo (Eric Kutz, cello; Miko Kominami, piano;)’s Duo Virtuoso recording has been nominated for the 4th Annual Listeners’ Choice Award from The Violoncello Foundation! Help these fantastic Delos artists by voting now through March 15, 11:59EDT at www.violoncellofoundation.org!
The Violoncello Foundation’s Listeners’ Choice Award is created to “stimulate public engagement and participation; increase public awareness and broaden public interest in cello and cello music; invigorate the recording industry; and to honor and celebrate recording artists.”
Nomination reviews:
“This is such a fun and electrifying program, perfect to showcase the musical and technical prowess of these two virtuosos!” —Sakura
“Great performance, fantastic programming and dynamic presentation make this CD a must-have!” —PTChung
Duo Virtuoso
Praised by the New York Concert Review as having “an easy virtuosity” and demonstrating “an unusually high level of ensemble playing” in their recent Carnegie Hall appearance, Duo Virtuoso has been enchanting audiences with their stylish and vivacious playing ever since its founding in 1996.
This most accomplished duo – consisting of cellist Eric Kutz and Miko Kominami – serves as Ensemble-in Residence at Iowa’s Luther College, where both are professors. Here they offer this varied and delightfully appealing program, including lighthearted bonbons like Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s tongue-in-cheek “Figaro” from Rossini’s Barber of Seville and Bohuslav Martinu’s ingenious and engaging Variations on a Theme from Rossini’s Moses. Earthy Latin flavors abound, thanks to Alberto Ginastera’s rhapsodic Pampeana No. 2 and Astor Piazzolla’s sensual Le Grand Tango. Finally, there’s Johannes Brahms’ timeless masterpiece: the darkly ruminative and complex Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor.
Captured in rich and pristine sound, these wonderful performances will enchant any lover of chamber music: particularly those partial to music for cello and piano.
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