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Images of 3 CenturiesAileen Chanco, piano $11.99
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[This CD] "gives her ample opportunity to showcase her considerable talents as a pianist." "...intense virtuosity.." --MusicWeb
..."a talented pianist...worth watching." --American Record Guide
- Ginastera: Sonata for Piano
- 1. Allegro marcato
- 2. Presto mysterioso
- 3. Adagio molto appasionato
- 4. Ruvido ed ostinato
- Mark Fish: Three Ages of Woman
- 5. Reminiscenses of the Old Woman
- 6. The Mother, Awake
- 7. Child
- Debussy: Images Book 1
- 8. Reflets dans l'eau
- 9. Hommage à Rameau
- 10. Mouvement
- Moussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition
- 11. Promenade
- 12. Gnomus
- 13. Promenade
- 14. The Old Castle
- 15. Promenade
- 16. The Tuileries
- 17. Bydlo
- 18. Promenade
- 19. Ballet of the Unhatched Chickens
- 20. Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle
- 21. Promenade
- 22. The Market Place of Limoges
- 23. Catacombes
- 24. Con mortuis in lingua mortua
- 25. The Hut on Chicken's Legs
- 26. The Great Gate of Kiev
Reviews:
"This disc of solo piano works by the Juilliard educated Aileen Chanco gives her ample opportunity to showcase her considerable talents as a pianist. An interesting choice of repertoire works well. Each piece is collectively of substance, however many of the individual movements themselves can only be described as miniatures – this, however, shouldn't particularly bother the listener to any real extent.
"The disc opens with the two most recent works of the four presented, the second of which (The Three Ages of Woman) was commissioned from Mark Fish by Chanco herself. The first piece is the four movement First Sonata by the Argentinean composer Alberto Ginastera. Ginastera's predilection for using Argentinean folk music as a significant influence in his music is vivid. To this are added elements of serial technique and the rhythmic and harmonic flair of Stravinsky. Chanco immediately shows a specific connection with the more recently composed works and this continues into The Three Ages of Woman. These two works clearly give Chanco more opportunity to display the intense virtuosity that is one of her specialities. This panache is not so evident in the two remaining Romantic works on the disc, which are, however, still executed with a generous helping of musicality and ability.
"A musical portrayal of the Klimt painting of the same name, The Three Ages of Woman – here in its first recording – is in three movements – Reminiscences of the Old Woman, The Mother, Awake, and Child. Mark Fish cleverly and effectively depicts each of these in music that is deeply descriptive. In terms of the performance and repertoire combined, this work perhaps provides the most interesting music. A strong Romantic influence pervades the work, which is also infused with more recent techniques and a hint of blues in the harmonic template.
"[Debussy Images Book 1] is accurate and clear and a sufficient amount of passion has been poured into this interpretation. …impeccable playing."
--Adam Binks - MusicWeb
"Her sound is beautiful and the music flows well. ..."beautifully delivered." ..."wonderful atmosphere." ..."many lovely moments worth hearing..." Images Reflets dans l'eau - "Her sound is right, and she is fully engaged in this rapturous little piece."
..."creates a lovely mood"... "a talented pianist"... "worth watching"...
--American Record Guide
Juilliard educated, and San Francisco Bay Area resident, Aileen Chanco has appeared as soloist and in recital throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. Her public performances include New York's Alice Tully Hall, Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Cultural Center for the Performing Arts in the Philippines.
Aileen has continued to impress audiences and critics alike with her unique brand of virtuosity and sensitivity. She has appeared as soloist and in recital throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. In 2003, her Philippine debut with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra was greeted with tremendous acclaim.
Aileen received both her Bachelors and Masters of Music degrees from the Juilliard School as a student of Herbert Stessin. She attended the Aspen Summer Music Festival, the Moscow Conservatory in America, the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival and the Banff Centre Resident Artist Program. Aileen resides in California with her husband, double bassist Bill Everett. She is an enthusiastic traveler, hiker and competitive fencer.
Live concert reviews:
"...Chanco gave an impressive start with her robust full-toned interpretation of Alberto Ginastera's Sonata no. 1, op. 22... Chanco unleashed mournful yet passionate outbursts in the "Adagio Molto Appasionato" and again with a big toned, rapid ostinato, she ended the "Ruvido ed Ostinato" last movement with a fiery bang.
"It was a musical feast that also elicited smiles from the audience especially when Chanco performed Debussy's "Images I"with the soft delicate touch characteristic of Debussy's Imressionism. Her sweeping glissandos in the accompaniment of "Reflects dans L'eau" mirrored exotic rippling waters brought about by the use of the pentatonic and whole tone scales... Chanco interpreted the masterly structured "Hommage a Rameau" with passion 'her fantastic technique was equal to the delicate etude-like "Movement" Her subtle use of all the three pedals contributed much to the atmosphere of this oriental sounding music...
..."Baba Yaga is a witch who travels on a hot mortar which she rows with a pestle. Chanco's interpretation of this movement was exhilaratingly scary and Halloween-ish... "The Great Gate of Kiev", with peals of ringing bells from its high stately pinnacles, Chanco's rendition soared to overpowering heights, Her depiction of every scene in these paintings were so vividly articulate that one can safely say she is a worthy collaborator of this great partnership between painter Hartmann and the composer Mussorgsky."
The Manila Times (Philippines): Maria Celine Veloso Pil, 3/7/05: "Art Inspired by Music, Music Inspired by Art"
"...The petite and pretty Aileen, whose slender, frail-looking frame belied the power of her playing, was undaunted by the challenging pieces she essayed. She demonstrated awesome technical skill and sensitive artistry, the combination of which solidly establishes her place among our leading pianist.
"Each of the four movements of Ginastera's Sonata no. 1, op. 22 was replete with frenetic rhythms... Dynamics consistently varied, showing Aileen's control and discipline without prejudice to the most rapid tempo, while the melodic lines surfaced. The change of style was readily evidenced by Aileen's interpretation of Debussy's Images Set 1 [sic] –the delicate nuances evoking various impressions and feelings rather than thoughts. The evening's highlight was doubtless Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition... Varied tonal hues, fleet, nimble runs contrasting with powerful chords, and a whole gamut of dynamics made the pictures come to life. Aileen Chanco is an astonishing pianist. The scenes she etched were as fascinating as the paintings that had inspired the music."