Search - Paganini, Rachmaninov, Weber Elgar, Frank Morelli (bassoon); Gilbert Kalish (piano) :: Romance & Caprice - Solo Bassoon & Piano

The listener will likely notice the connection between names of several works on this disc and its title. More significantly, Romance and Caprice describes the variety of repertoire offered here, as well as the bassoon?s expressive capacity, with its flexible, three-and-one-half octave range and tone quality comparable to the human voice. The works fall into three periods: 1801-1819, 1849, and 1910-1921 spanning 120 years, but sharing a similar compositional language. FRANK MORELLI: Introduced to the bassoon in public school in Massapequa, New York, Frank Morelli studied with Stephen Maxym at the Manhattan and Juilliard Schools of Music. He was the first bassoonist to achieve a doctorate at Juilliard. A long-time member of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, his recording of the Mozart Bassoon Concerto with Orpheus on the Deutsche Grammophon label won international critical acclaim. The Orpheus disc "Shadow Dances," which features Frank Morelli, won a 2001 Grammy Award. He?s made nine appearances as a soloist in New York's Carnegie Hall and has appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center on numerous occasions, including at the White House for the final State Dinner of the Clinton Presidency. A member of the renowned wind quintet Windscape, which is an ensemble in residence at the Manhattan School of Music, he also serves on the faculties of the Juilliard School, Yale School of Music and SUNY Stony Brook. He is editor of the landmark excerpt book, Stravinsky: Difficult Passages for Bassoon, published by Boosey & Hawkes, and has a number of transcriptions to his credit published by TrevCo, including the Paganini 24th Caprice and arias from The Barber of Seville featured on this disc. Romance and Caprice is Frank Morelli?s third solo CD on MSR Classics. GILBERT KALISH: Pianist Gilbert Kalish leads a musical life of unusual variety and breadth. Recipient of the Paul Fromm Award, Chamber Music America?s Service Award and the George Peabody Medal, his profound influence on the musical community has established him as a major figure in American music making. Pianist of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players for thirty years, he was a founding member of the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble. A frequent guest artist with many of the world's most distinguished chamber ensembles, Mr. Kalish's discography of some 100 recordings encompasses classical repertory, 20th Century masterworks and new compositions. Distinguished Professor at SUNY Stony Brook, he was a faculty member of the Tanglewood Music Center for 30 years and served as its "Chairman of the Faculty" from 1985-1997. Summers are now spent at the Steans Institute, the Marlboro Festival and Music@Menlo. HARRY SEARING: Harry Searing, a prominent New York bassoonist, was a student of Stephen Maxym. He has performed often with the New York Philharmonic, as well as virtually every classical organization in the New York area. On tour he has performed with the Chicago Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, and Hong Kong Philharmonic. He serves on the faculty of Montclair (NJ) State University, has a number of recordings to his credit, and can be heard with Frank Morelli on the MSR Classics CD Baroque Fireworks [MS1109].