Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio - In The Arms Of The Beloved (2007)

What we have here are two recent works by one of America's most accomplished and successful composers, both written for the artists who perform them here, the members of Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio. The first is "A Child's Reliquary," a 27-minute trio from 1999 written in response to the death of a child. The second is "In the Arms of the Beloved," a 26-minute double concerto for violin, cello and orchestra from 2001, written to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversary of its soloists, Jaime Laredo and Sharon Robinson. Its title acknowledges the inspiration provided by a volume of poetry by the great 13th-Century Persian poet Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi (the composer's family background is Iranian) eloquently expressing the belief that God is literally present in those we love.

From this background alone one can infer that this is a very different sort of music from what we've been accustomed to over the last century or so. Can anyone imagine a Boulez or Babbitt or Stockhausen work on subjects like these? As the perceptive writer of the notes accompanying this CD observes, what's been largely missing from the music of the 20th Century is, quite simply, emotion. And Danielpour's works are an effective antidote for that malady.

While far from "easy listening" or minimalism, this music is alternately stimulating and comforting, and always accessible. The trio is the more subtle of the two works, and may take more than one hearing to absorb; the concerto is a instant knockout, with plenty of old-fashioned aural excitement and moments of quite touching beauty. The performances are polished and sympathetic, and the recording does everything full justice. The CD is from Arabesque, not Koch Classics as suggested above. Highly recommended for anyone comfortable with Mahler and Strauss, and the milder works of Shostakovich and Samual Barber.