Leila Josefowicz, John Novacek - Beethoven, Ravel, Salonen, Grey, Messiaen (2005)

Leila Josefowicz is an artist of great physical and musical beauty and one with keen intelligence and respect for the entire spectrum of music written for the violin. No ordinary recital, this, but instead this is a sampler of many periods and styles of music conceived programmatically and played in a manner that makes each individual work glow.

The opening brief Theme: modere variations by Messiaen sets the tone for what is to follow. The work is transparent and filigreed with lovely lines and is an apropos prelude to the Ravel work that follows. Josefowicz thoroughly inhabits the French sound (as does her fine piano collaborator John Novacek) and the works feels simple in their hands. This is followed by some contemporary work by Mark Grey ("San Andreas Suite") that is challenging to the performer but immensely accessible to the listener.

That Josefowicz should include a work by Esa-Pekka Salonen is natural in that they have performed together frequently (their performance of John Adams' Violin Concerto in this year's LA Philharmonic repertoire was a tremendous success!). The piece is for unaccompanied violin and as with Salonen's other compositions, this work finds planes of color and expression unheralded by other composers. It is a bit of perfection.

To satisfy listeners unfamiliar with new music Josefowicz wisely includes Beethoven and Brahms and reminds us how well she plays the old masters as well as the new ones. The balance between piano and violin is excellent and the recorded sound is realistic and flawless. This is a challenging, educational and richly rewarding recital by a very gifted musician. Highly recommended.