Rasa Vitkauskaitė
Rasa Vitkauskaitė has won top prizes at numerous prestigious international piano competitions including First Prizes at the Rubinstein Piano Competition (Paris), Les Rencontres Internationales des Jeunes Pianistes (Belgium), the competition in Taurisano (Italy), and the Mendelssohn Cup (Italy). In 2007, Rasa won a Kathryn Wasserman Davis grant that supported her tour promoting peace in Israel. In her native country of Lithuania, Ms. Vitkauskaitė has garnered the top prize at six national competitions.
Ms. Vitkauskaitė studied with Jūratė Karosaitė at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts in Vilnius, Lithuania, from which she graduated with honors. She then won a scholarship to study at the United World College of the Adriatic in Italy, where she studied with Alberto Miodini and took chamber music lessons with members of the Trio di Trieste at the International Chamber Music School. Upon graduating, she was awarded the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Subsequently, she completed her Bachelors and Masters Degrees at the Boston Conservatory, where she was a student of Michael Lewin, and won the H. Wilfred Churchill piano scholarship competition both in 2007 and 2008. She is currently studying with Randall Hodkinson at Longy School of Music of Bard College.
Ms. Vitkauskaitė has performed as soloist with the Kaunas, Latvian, Kaliningrad Philharmonic Orchestras, I Solisti di Perugia and the Boston Conservatory Orchestra. Her most recent concert engagements include performances at festivals in China, South Korea, Venezuela, Mexico, Portugal, Japan and the United States.
Ms. Vitkauskaitė is also very active as a chamber musician. She performs regularly with world-renown clarinetist Jonathan Cohler. 2008 marked the release of her debut CD with Mr. Cohler on Rhapsodie Française (Ongaku 024-121). The duo has recently recorded a new CD titled Romanza (Ongaku 024-123), which will be released in the fall featuring works by Schumann, Prokofiev and Guastavino. Ms. Vitkauskaitė is also the pianist of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Xonor Trio with violinist Yumi Okada and cellist Ignacy Grzelazka.
Ms. Vitkauskaitė is on the faculty at the Concord Conservatory of Music.
For more information, visit: http://rasavitkauskaite.com
LITHUANIAN COMPOSERS
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
Autumn, VL. 264
Pater Noster, VL. 260
Impromptu, VL. 298
Preludes:
VL. 169
VL. 234
Balys Dvarionas
Sonatina in C Major
Etude
Pėdos (Lašai) / Footsteps (Drops)
Stasys Vainiūnas
Vaikų kampelis / Suite Children’s Corner
SOLO WORKS
Johann Sebastian Bach
Partita in G Major No. 5, BWV 829
Toccata in G major, BWV 916
Well-Tempered Clavier Preludes & Fugues: Book I: C-sharp Major BWV 849
Book II: F-sharp Minor BWV 883, B Minor BWV 893, F Minor BWV 881
Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 971
Béla Bartók
Allegro Barbaro
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonatas:
F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1
A Major, Op. 2, No. 2
C Major, Op. 2, No. 3
E-flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3
F Major, Op. 54
Johannes Brahms
Klavierstücke, Op. 118
Frédéric Chopin
Etudes: Op. 10, Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 11
Op. 25, No. 12
Preludes, Op. 28, Nos. 8, 18
Scherzo in C-sharp Minor, Op. 39, No. 3
Polonaises, Op. 40
Berceuse, Op. 57
Alberto Ginastera
Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2
Carlos Guastavino
Sonatina in G Minor
Lowell Liebermann
Gargoyles, Op. 29
Franz Liszt
Venezia e Napoli, S. 162
Spanish Rhapsody, S. 254
Mephisto Waltz
Transcendental Etude in F Minor, No. 10
Liebeslied (after Widmung from Schumann’s Myrthen, Op. 25)
Witold Lutosławski
Etude, No. 1
Bohuslav Martinů
Butterflies and Birds of Paradise, H. 127
Felix Mendelssohn
Variations Sérieuses, Op. 54
Songs without words:
Op. 19, No. 6
Op. 67, No. 4
Moritz Moszkowski
Caprice espagnol, Op. 37
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sonatas:
D Major, K. 311
B-flat Major, K. 333
D Major, K. 576
Sergei Prokofiev
Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 14
Suggestion Diabolique
Toccata in D Minor, Op. 11
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Romance in F Minor, Op. 10, No. 6
Moment Musicaux in E Minor, Op. 16, No. 4
Prelude in C Minor, Op. 32, No. 8
Etudes-Tableaux:
Op. 39: Nos. 1, 8
Maurice Ravel
Jeux d'Eau
Pavane pour une infante defunte
Miroirs
Domenico Scarlatti
Sonatas:
F Minor, L. 187
D Minor, L. 422
G Minor, L. 499
B Minor
F Minor
Paul Schoenfield
Peccadilloes: VI. Boogie
Franz Schubert
Variations in A Minor
Impromptus D 899:
E-flat Major, Op. 90, No. 2
G-flat Major, Op. 90, No. 3
Robert Schumann
Kreisleriana, Op. 16
Sonata No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22
Alexander Scriabin
Sonata No. 2 in G-sharp Minor, Op. 19
Etude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 42, No. 5
CONCERTOS
Ludwig van Beethoven
Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 19
Edvard Grieg
Concerto in A Minor, Op. 15
Franz Liszt
Concerto No. 2 in A Major
Felix Mendelssohn
Capriccio Brillante, Op. 22
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Concertos:
C Major, K. 246
B-flat Major, K. 456
D Minor, K. 466
A Major, K. 488
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Concertos:
No. 1 in F-sharp Minor
No. 2 in C Minor
Dmitri Shostakovich
Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and String Orchestra No. 1, Op. 35
CHAMBER MUSIC
Malcolm Arnold
Sonatina for clarinet and piano, Op. 29
Béla Bartók
Sonatina for violin and piano
Contrasts for clarinet, violin and piano
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonatas for piano and violin
D Major, Op. 12, No. 1
A Major, Op. 12, No. 2
E-flat Major, Op. 12, No. 3
Sonata for cello and piano No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 5
Trio for clarinet, cello and piano in B-flat Major, Op. 11
Sonata for horn and piano in F Major, Op. 17
Leonard Bernstein
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano
Johannes Brahms
Sonata for cello and piano in E Minor, Op. 38
Sonatas for clarinet and piano in F Minor and E-flat Major, Op. 120
Trio for clarinet, cello and piano in A minor, Op. 114
Scherzo from FAE Sonata
Rebecca Clarke
Sonata for viola and piano
Antonin Dvořák
Piano Trio No. 4 in E Minor “Dumky”
César Franck
Sonata for violin and piano in A Major
Edvard Grieg
Sonata for violin and piano in F Major, Op. 10 No. 2
Carlos Guastavino
Sonata for clarinet and piano
Joseph Haydn
Piano Trio in E flat major Hob. XV : 29
Paul Hindemith
Sonata for double bass and piano
Sonata for flute and piano
Arthur Honegger
Sonatine for clarinet and piano
Joseph Horovitz
Sonatina for clarinet and piano
Bohuslav Martinů
Sonatina for clarinet and piano, H. 356
Felix Mendelssohn
Sonata No. 2 for cello and piano in D Major, Op. 58
Piano Trio in D Minor, Op. 49
Oliver Messiaen
Quatuor pour la fin du Temps
Darius Milhaud
Suite for clarinet, violin and piano, Op. 157b
Duo Concertante for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 351
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sonatas for violin and piano:
D Major, K. 306
A Major, K. 526
E-flat Major, K. 380
Robert Muczynski
Fantasy Trio for clarinet, cello and piano, Op. 26
Time Pieces for clarinet and piano, Op. 43
Astor Piazzolla
Le Grand Tango for cello and piano
Histoire du Tango for saxophone and piano
Primavera Porteña for piano trio
Francis Poulenc
Sonata for clarinet and piano, FP. 184
Sergei Prokofiev
Sonata for flute and piano in D Major, Op. 94
Maurice Ravel
Sonata for violin and piano in G Major
Carl Reinecke
Trio in B-flat Major for piano, clarinet and horn, Op. 274
Paquito D’Rivera
Invitación al Danzón for clarinet, cello and piano
Camille Saint-Saëns
Sonata for oboe and piano, Op. 166
Sonata for clarinet and piano, Op. 167
Simon Sargon
Deep Ellum Nights for clarinet and piano
Paul Schoenfield
Café Music for piano trio
Franz Schubert
Sonatina for violin and piano in A Minor, Op. 137 No. 2
Clara Schumann
Romances for violin and piano, Op. 22
Robert Schumann
Romances for oboe and piano, Op. 94
Fantasiestücke for clarinet and piano, Op. 73
Sonata for violin and piano in A Minor, Op. 105
Intermezzo from FAE Sonata
Dmitri Shostakovich
Sonata for cello and piano in D Minor, Op. 40
Sonata for viola and piano in C Minor, Op. 147
Igor Stravinsky
L‘Histoire du Soldat for violin, clarinet and piano
Charles-Marie Widor
Introduction et Rondo for clarinet and piano, Op. 72
Dana Wilson
Liquid Ebony for clarinet and piano
TWO PIANOS
Ferruccio Busoni
Variations on the theme of Mozart
Darius Milhaud
Scaramouche, Op. 165b
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Suite for 2 pianos, Op. 17:
Romance
PIANO FOUR-HANDS
Johannes Brahms
Valses, Op. 39
Hungarian Dances No. 2, 6
Claude Debussy
Petite Suite
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sonata in C major, K. 521
150 RiverMead Road, Peterborough, May 8, 2011
Ludwig van Beethoven Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 11
Allegro con brio (1770-1827)
Adagio
Tema con variazioni (Pria ch'io l'impegno: Allegretto)
Antonin Dvořák Piano Trio No. 4, “Dumky”
Lento Maestoso (1841-1904)
Poco Adagio
Andante
Andante Moderato
Allegro
Lento Maestoso
Ástor Piazzolla Estaciones Porteñas
(1921-1992)
Yumi Okada, violin
Ignacy Grzelązka, cello
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Brookline Library Concert Series, Piano Recital, Brookline, Hunneman Hall, March 6, 2011
Franz Liszt Liebeslied (1848)
(after Schumann Myrthen Op. 25 “Widmung”) (1811-1886)
Robert Schumann Sonata No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22
So rasch wie möglich (1810-1856)
Andantino
Scherzo. Sehr rasch und markirt
Rondo. Presto
Moritz Moszkowski Caprice espagnol, Op. 37
(1854-1925)
Johann Sebastian Bach Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 971
(Allegro) (1685-1750)
Andante
Presto
Maurice Ravel Une barque sur l’océan from Miroirs
(1875-1937)
Paul Schoenfield Peccadilloes: VI. Boogie (1997)
b. 1947
Hommage à Schumann, Longy School of Music, Cambridge, Pickman Hall, October 15, 2010
Clara Schumann Drei Romanzen, Op. 22 (1853)
Andante molto (1819-1896)
Allegretto, mit zartem Vortrage
Leidenschaftlich schnell
Johannes Brahms Scherzo in C Minor, WoO 2 from F.A.E. Sonata
(1833-1897)
Jonathan Cohler, clarinet
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Franz Liszt Liebeslied (1848)
(after Schumann Myrthen Op. 25 “Widmung”) (1811-1886)
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Franz Schubert Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D. 965 (1828)
(1797-1828)
Jayne West, soprano
Jonathan Cohler, clarinet
Robert Merfeld, piano
Robert Schumann Sonata No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 105 (1851)
Mit leidenschaftlichem Ausdruck (1810-1856)
Allegretto
Lebhaft
Jonathan Cohler, clarinet
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Robert Schumann Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 (1849)
Zart und mit Ausdruck (1810-1856)
Lebhaft, leicht
Rasch und mit Feuer
Jonathan Cohler, clarinet
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Xonor Trio Recital, Kendal in Hanover, New Hampshire, May 15, 2010
Ludwig van Beethoven Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 11
Allegro con brio (1770-1827)
Adagio
Tema con variazioni (Pria ch'io l'impegno: Allegretto)
Felix Mendelssohn Trio in D Minor, Op. 49
Molto allegro ed agitato (1809-1847)
Andante con moto tranquillo
Scherzo: Leggiero e vivace
Finale: Allegro assai appassionato
Paul Schoenfield Café Music
Allegro con fuoco b. 1947
Andante
Presto
Yumi Okada, violin
Ignacy Grzelązka, cello
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Piano Recital, The Boston Conservatory, Seully Hall, April 28, 2010
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Sonata No. 13 in B-flat Major, K. 333
Allegro (1756-1791)
Andante cantabile
Allegretto grazioso
Franz Liszt Spanish Rhapsody, S.254
(1811-1886)
INTERMISSION
Alberto Ginastera Danzas argentinas, Op. 2
Danza del fiejo boyero (1916-1983)
Danza de la moza donosa
Danza del gaucho matrero
Carlos Guastavino Sonatina in G Minor
Allegretto (1912-2000)
Lento muy expresivo
Presto
Moritz Moszkowski Caprice espagnol, Op. 37
(1854-1925)
National Conservatory of Music, Mexico City, March 25, 2010
Carlos Guastavino Tonada y Cueca (1966)
(1912-2000)
César Franck Sonata in A Major (1886)
Allegretto ben moderato (1822-1890)
Allegro
Recitativo-Fantasia
Allegretto poco mosso
INTERMISSION
Robert Schumann Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 (1849)
Zart und mit Ausdruck (1810-1856)
Lebhaft, leicht
Rasch und mit Feuer
Francis Poulenc Sonata (1962)
Allegro Tristamente: Allegretto (1899-1963)
Romanza: Très calme
Allegro Con Fuoco: Très animé
Jonathan Cohler, clarinet
Rasa Vitkauskaitė, piano
The Boston Conservatory Orchestra Concert, The Boston Conservatory, Seully Hall, December 5, 2009
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466
Allegro (1756-1791)
Romanze
Allegro assai
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Russell Ger, conductor
International Festival in Caracas, Venezuela, Centro de Acción Social por la Música,Concert Hall No. 2, November 11, 2009
Johannes Brahms Sonata for clarinet and piano in E-flat Major, Op. 120 No. 2
Allegro amabile (1833-1897)
Allegro, molto appassionato
Andante con moto - Allegro (Tema con variazione)
Béla Bartók Contrasts for clarinet, violin and piano
Verbunkos (1881-1945)
Pihenő
Sebes
Jesús Antón, clarinet
Eddie Cordero, violin
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
INTERMISSION
Johannes Brahms Trio for clarinet, cello and piano in A Minor, Op. 114
Allegro (1833-1897)
Adagio
Andantino grazioso
Allegro
António Saiote, clarinet
Germán Marcano, cello
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Xonor Trio Recital, Wellesley Free Library, October 25, 2009
Felix Mendelssohn Trio in D Minor, Op. 49
Molto allegro ed agitato (1809-1847)
Andante con moto tranquillo
Scherzo: Leggiero e vivace
Finale: Allegro assai appassionato
Yumi Okada, violin
Ignacy Grzelązka, cello
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Johann Sebastian Bach Grave from Sonata for violin in A Minor
(1685-1750)
Yumi Okada, violin
Henryk Wieniawski Polonaise De Concert in D Major, Op. 4
(1835-1880)
Yumi Okada, violin
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Frédéric Chopin Etude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 25, No. 7
Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2 (1810-1849)
Waltz in A Minor, Op. 34, No. 2
Ignacy Grzelązka, cello
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Felix Mendelssohn Variations sérieuses, Op. 54
(1809-1847)
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Paul Schoenfield Café Music
Allegro con fuoco b. 1947
Andante
Presto
Yumi Okada, violin
Ignacy Grzelązka, cello
Rasa Vitkauskaite, piano
Piano Recital, The Boston Conservatory, Seully Hall, October 4, 2009
Sergei Prokofiev Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 14
Allegro ma non troppo (1891-1953)
Scherzo, Allegro marcato
Andante
Vivace
Felix Mendelssohn Variations sérieuses, Op. 54
(1809-1847)
INTERMISSION
Johann Sebastian Bach Prelude and Fugue in F minor, BWV 881
from WTC Book II (1685-1750)
Maurice Ravel Alborada del gracioso from Miroirs
(1875-1937)
Frédéric Chopin Etude in G-flat Major, Op. 10, No. 5
(1810-1849)
Lowell Liebermann Gargoyles, Op. 29
Presto b. 1961
Adagio semplice, ma con molto rubato
Allegro moderato
Presto feroce
Seully Hall, Boston, 2007 04 15
L. van Beethoven Sonata in C major op.2 No.3
Allegro con brio
Adagio
Scherzo, Allegro
Allegro assai
A. Scriabin Sonata-Fantasy in G sharp minor op.19M.Ravel Miroirs:
Oiseaux Tristes
Alborada del gracioso
F.Liszt Venezia e Neapoli, S 162:
Gondoliera
Canzone
Tarantella
Concert in the Mainstage Theater, Boston, 15–18 02 2007
Dark Elegies by Antony Tudor, staged by Donald Mahler; a premiere by Michael Uthoff;
José Limón’s Dances for Isadora, staged by Jennifer Scanlon:
F.Chopin Etudes op. 10 No.6, 7,11
Preludes op.25 No.8, 18
Polonaise op.40 No.2
The Boston Conservatory Dance Ensemble
Yasuko Tokunaga, Artistic Director
Festival Muzika Za Pet in Zagreb, Croatia, 10 02 2006
S.Prokofiev Sonata for violin and piano in D major op.94 bis
Moderato
Scherzo (Presto)
Andante
Allegro con brio
Yuliya Hauryliuk, violin
Concert at the Innsbruck Conservatoire, Austria, 02 03 2006
J.Haydn Trio in E flat major Hob XV:29
Yuliya Hauryliuk, violin; Juan Sebastian Delgado, cello
Concert in the Bradenstoke Hall, St. Donat’s Castle, United Kingdom, 29 11 2005
L.van Beethoven Sonata in E flat major op. 31 No.3
J.Brahms Klavierstücke op.118
F.Chopin Scherzo op. 31
Etudes op.10 No.6, op.25 No.12
A.Ginastera Danzas Argentinas op.2
Concert in the Stefano Marizza Hall, Fogliano Redipuglia, Italy, 18 11 2005
M.K.Čiurlionis Autumn VL 246
Pater Noster VL 260
Impromptu VL 298
L.van Beethoven Sonata op.31 No.3
Allegro
Allegretto vivace
Moderato grazioso
Presto con fuoco
F.Chopin Berceuse op.57
Scherzo op.39
J.Brahms Klavierstücke op.118
F.Liszt Mephisto Waltz
Auditorium del Museo Rivoltella, Trieste, Italy, 10 11 2005
L.van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Sonata for violin and piano in D major op.12 No.1
Allegro con brio
Tema con Variazioni. Andante con moto
Rondo. Allegro
Sonata for violin and piano in A major op.12 No.2
Allegro vivace
Andante, piu tosto Allegretto
Allegro piacevole
Sonata for violin and piano in E flat major op.12 No.3
Allegro con spirito
Adagio con molt’ espressione
Rondo.Allegro
Yuliya Hauryliuk, violin
Concert The World in Classical Music, Duino, Italy, 22 05 2005
F.Liszt Mephisto Waltz
A.Piazzolla Le Grand Tango
Sebastian Plano, cello
Concert at the Art School of Podgorica, Serbia and Montenegro, 25 02 2005
F.Chopin Berceuse op.57
Etudes op.10 No.4, op.25 No.12
A. Scriabin Etude op.42 No.5
S.Prokofiev Sonata for violin and piano op. 94 bis
Yuliya Hauryliuk, violin
Concert Ridotto del Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi, Trieste, Italy, 14 01 2005
W.A.Mozart Sonata for violin and piano in E flat major K. 380
Allegro
Andante con moto
Rondeau
Yuliya Hauryliuk, violin
Viva la musica concert at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts, 22 12 2003
D.Milhaud Scaramouche op.165 b
Vif
Modere
Brazileira
Vidas Bareikis, 2nd piano
Concert in Stasys Vainiūnas House, 20 11 2003
J.S.Bach Prelude and Fugue in F sharp minor (WTC, book 2) BWV 883
W.A.Mozart Sonata in D major KV 331
F.Schubert Variations in A minor
S.Rachmaninoff Etudes-Tableaux in C minor op. 39 No.1, in D minor op.39 No.8
M.Ravel Pavane pour une infante defunte
Jeux d’Eau
F.Liszt Tarantella
Music Hour in The Church of St. Johns, 25 10 2003
Opuses by J.S.Bach, M.Ravel, S.Rachmaninoff
Concert Young Musicians and Opera Stars in Vilnius City Hall, 12 05 2003
F.Liszt Venezia e Neapoli: Tarantella, S162
Music Hour in The Church of St. Johns, a concert to commemorate the 127th anniversary since the birth of M. K. Čiurlionis, 22 09 2002
Opuses by M.K.Čiurlionis, D.Scarlatti, W.A.Mozart, M.Ravel
Vilnius Picture Gallery, a concert to commemorate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relationships between Czech Republic and the Republic of Lithuania, 21 03 2002
Opuses by B.Dvarionas, Z.Fibich, S.Rachmaninov
Concert in M. K. Čiurlionis House, 21 02 2000
J.S.Bach Fantasy in C minor
B.Dvarionas Sonatina in C major
F.Schubert Impromptu in G flat major op.90 No.3
C.Saint-Saens Toccata in F sharp minor
“Pianist Rasa Vitkauskaite struck us for her excellent preparation and enthusiasm. Combined with these qualities she possesses an instrumental efficiency and concentration which enables her to obtain excellent musical results. She has magnificent talent, is extremely musical and technically well prepared: all characteristics which let us foresee a good concert career”.
From annual reports by Chamber music ensemble Trio di Trieste – Renato Zanetovich, Enrico Bronzi, Maureen Jones and Dario de Rosa, UWCAD, May 2006
“Rasa Vitkauskaite demonstrated great passion, excellent piano technique and piano repertoire which include works from Baroque to 20th century music. She is excellent young musician with an extraordinary preparation in music. She is a very serious, talented and matured musician.”
From annual reports, Stefano Sacher (composer, conductor, Italy), UWCAD, May 2006
“A laureate of many international and national competitions, Rasa Vitkauskaitė has demonstrated musical maturity when performing opuses by M. K. Čiurlionis, M. Ravel and F. Liszt in front of the audience. This sixteen-year-old with great potential has amazed audiences in France, Greece, Italy, Romania, Czech Republic and other countries. She has performed together with the famous P. Berman Chamber Orchestra in Kaunas Philharmonic. She participated in the festival The 21st Century Generation in Moscow, The Kremlin. Professors and students of the State M. Lomonosov University have recently applauded her.”
Juozas Adomaitis, „Labdaros koncerte – klasikinės muzikos akordai“ (“Chords of Classical Music in a Charity Concert”), Alytaus Naujienos, 21 11 2002
Ongaku Records announced the release of Rhapsodie Française (024-121), a CD featuring world renowned clarinetist Jonathan Cohler and multiple prize-winning Lithuanian pianist Rasa Vitkauskaite in her debut recording. The new release traverses many of the central virtuoso works of the “French School” of clarinet music including Camille Saint-Saëns’ Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 167, Claude Debussy’s Première Rhapsodie, Henri Rabaud’s Solo de Concours, Op. 10, André Messager’s Solo de Concours, Charles Marie Widor’s Introduction et Rondo, Op. 72, Ernest Chausson’s Andante et Allegro, Eugène Bozza’s Bucolique, and Louis Cahuzac’s Cantilène. One of the most important classical record review journals in the United States – the American Record Guide (January, 2009) - wrote: “The collaboration is excellent. Cohler’s is everything French woodwind playing should be—expressive and colorful with prodigious technique. His risks pay off too; his soft playing is sometimes barely audible, bit it’s still there; and his blazing tempos in 16th-note passages sound clean and effortless...Vitkauskaite makes the most of them [the piano parts] with subtle musicianship and exceptional skill...Cohler and Vitkauskaite’s commitment to each work makes this recording not only a great model for younger players, but an enjoyable disc to pop in at home.” In addition to stunning performances by Cohler and Vitkauskaite, the CD features the award winning engineering of Brad Michel, and it was recorded in the beautiful acoustics of the Rogers Center for the Arts at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. This recording was produced using the latest in 24-bit digital recording technology, and was edited and mastered throughout in 24-bits to preserve the pristine audiophile quality sound. Active as a duo, Mr. Cohler and Ms. Vitkauskaite are currently working on their next CD for Ongaku and plan to make several more recordings together in the coming seasons. On January 29, 2009 the duo will perform live on WGBH radio in Boston.
Ongaku Records releases “Rhapsodie Francaise” CD featuring renowned clarinetist JONATHAN COHLER and pianist RASA VITKAUSKAITE in her debut recording
Jonathan Cohler's recital ... was, as usual, musically sensitive and technically phenomenal; his wonderful pianist, Rasa Vitkauskaite, is also a fine artist, one to keep a close eye on.
The Clarinet Magazine, December 2009
Pianist Rasa Vitkauskaite stood out… a magnificent talent… extremely musical.
Trio di Trieste, May 2006
"...definitive interpretations...The success of the collaboration of these two world-class artists is unquestionable and on vivid display throughout this CD. The duo's performances achieve an ideal blend of elegance, delicacy, and joie de vivre. The listener is struck by the easy virtuosity and inherent musicality of every performance, and by the sensitivity and subtlety of Cohler and Vitkauskaite's ensemble work." "...flawless performances...dazzling...impetuous charm with sensitivity and grace...sparkling...a CD worthy of any collection." —The Clarinet Magazine, 2009 "...clearly in a special class... Ms. Vitkauskaite displays a musical mentality that belies her youth; she is never a mere “accompanist,” but a true collaborator, making even the contest pieces sound like miniature chamber works. She and Cohler sound as though they’ve been playing together for years…" —Fanfare, 2009 “The collaboration is excellent… Vitkauskaite makes the most of them [the piano parts] with subtle musicianship and exceptional skill...Cohler and Vitkauskaite’s commitment to each work makes this recording not only a great model for younger players, but an enjoyable disc to pop in at home.” —American Record Guide, 2009
Reviews of CD Rhapsodie Française
