The featured work on this album of compositions by Justin Dello Joio is the American composer’s new piano concerto; “Oceans Apart”; composed for keyboard titan; Garrick Ohlsson. Ohlsson is joined by the Boston Symphony Orchestra; conducted by Alan Gilbert; the artists who premiered the concerto in 2023. The program also includes chamber works performed by the New York Philharmonic’s principal cellist; Carter Brey; with pianist Christopher O’Riley; and the American Brass Quintet; and organist Colin Fowler.

“Ohlsson is a marvelous interpreter, undertaking the role of vying against the orchestra instead of, as is traditional, being supported by it. That said, in places where the soloist is intended to blend in with certain cohorts of the ensemble, such as pitched percussion flurries, shimmering and well-coordinated passages result. His solo turns reveal formidable virtuosity.”

Sequenza21

“The whole thing is spectacularly played by pianist Garrick Ohlsson… Dello Joio’s piece requires monster technique, which Ohlsson has to burn — and his clearly articulated playing revels in the score’s brilliant splashes of color.”

San Francisco Classical Voice

Release Date:

August 10, 2023

Number of Discs:

1

Label:

Bridge Records

Total length:

40:10