20th Century Feminine 100% Good

This release features four very important -- and very different -- female composers. Though all three wrote music in the 20th Century, separated by time and geography.

Violinist Louise Chisson and pianist Tamara Atschba perform with passion and conviction. Their playing -- and the quality of the works -- make this a rewarding listening experience.

The works follow a loose chronological order. It begins with two short pieces by French composer Lili Boulanger. Boulanger was active in the early 1900s, and her music reflects some of the traits of Debussy, albeit taken in an original direction.

Grazyna Bacewicz is represented by her Violin Sonata No. 4. This Polish composer was a virtuoso violinist. Her five violin sonatas test the performer's skill, and the fourth sonata is no exception. Chisson plays beautifully, deftly alternating between lyrical passages and crunchy folk-like motifs.

Russian composer Galina Ustovolskayas studied with Shostakovich. Her Violin Sonata from 1952 has a singularity of purpose. The theme is rigorously and relentlessly developed in what sounded to me like a cross between Stravinsky and Schoenberg. This was not the music Soviet Russia wanted from its composers -- so it's just now finding its audience.

Jennifer Higdon is the only living composer represented. String Poetic is classic Higdon. Some sections are filled with restless energy. Others have a warm -- but decidedly contemporary -- lyricism that could come from no other composer.

The performances are well-recorded, with a nice balance between the violin and piano. But then, I wouldn't expect anything less from the Haenssler Classic release

These are exceptionally well-crafted works given exceptionally fine performances.

20th Century Feminine
Lili Boulanger, Grazyna Bacewicz, Galina Ustovolskayas, Jennifer Higdon
Louise Chisson, violin; Tamara Atschba, piano
Haenssler Classic HC20044