TORONTO, ON, Canada (Sympho Inc/ www.breiner.ca) - '...there must be something …', Concerto for Piano, Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra was composed in 2000 and marvellously premiered by the
Swiss ensemble Trio Animae and the Kosice
State Philharmonic Orchestra in February 2002. 'I found the music extremely enjoyable and very well crafted, and liked it a great deal. I did give it my thumbs up.' said Henry Fogel, President and CEO of the American Symphony Orchestra League and former President of the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association.
In the review called Human Fate Melted in Tones, the press described this rare piece as '...demonstration of intense observation, sincere understanding and masterful composition skills.', and Breiner's conducting as 'brilliant and confident'. '[Breiner truly created the world of 'intimate' contrasts; nevertheless, he kept the piece concise, technically as well as conceptually.' writes S. Curilla.
The CD incorporates Breiner's other compositions for piano trio including the popular Sonata Ostinata, which has been performed, among others, by principal players of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Composed in 1988, Sonata Ostinata is a unique combination of elements blending classical piano trio and jazz piano trio. After its UK premiere in May 2001, Malcolm Miller wrote, 'Breiner's tonal and jazz modal harmony has a nostalgic flavour, sometimes recalling in texture the Gershwin-Heifetz arrangements, sometimes an almost Elgarian richness, notably in the suave lyrical melody...'
To Dear Mr. Bach on His Birthday is the third of Breiner's compositions for piano trio presented on this profile CD. To Dear Mr. Bach on His Birthday was originally composed in 1985 as a tribute to J.S. Bach on his 300th birthday anniversary. This piece for piano and violin was inspired by Bach's Suite for Violin. In 2002, Breiner rearranged his original composition for piano, violin and violoncello.
Peter Breiner (1957)
Breiner is a Toronto based composer, conductor, pianist and arranger. He received traditional European musical training and studied composition at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (former Czechoslovakia) with Prof. Alexander Moyzes, one of the most significant figures in modern Slovak music.
One of the world's most recorded musicians (over 100 CDs in the last 10 years), Breiner has recently conducted the world premiere of his own oratorio composition The Story (based on Biblical texts) for solos, 2 choirs and a large orchestra. Breiner's other compositions include two symphonies, orchestral, chamber and choral music.
Breiner's clever arrangements are perhaps the best known. Breiner's arrangements of national anthems were used during the Olympic Games in Athens this year. The Washington Post subtitled the article about anthems and Breiner's creative flash 'Athens Honors American Winners With Kinder, Gentler National Anthem'. Tim Smith of the Baltimore Sun wrote 'Breiner's subtle treatment of [dramatic measures, with the unexpected tinge of bittersweetness in the harmony, strikes my ears as fittingly poetic and rather touching.'
Breiner has conducted, often doubling as a pianist, the Vienna Mozart Orchestra, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the Hungarian State Radio Orchestra, the Nicolaus Esterhazy Orchestra Budapest, the Polish Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra, the Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Capella Istropolitana, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra National de Lille, France, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, to mention just a few.
Peter Breiner presents his concerts and piano recitals worldwide. Most recently, he has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., in New York City, Istanbul, and London, Berlin and in Hong Kong where he also conducted the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra three times in the last 12 months.
Breiner's plans in 2005 include a tour of 25 Japanese cities and a concert appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England.
Trio Animae (Switzerland)
Tomas Dratva – piano
Jean Christophe Gawrysiak – violin
Dieter Hilpert - violoncello
In the almost 10 years of its existence, Trio Animae has conquered a firm place on the concert stages across Europe as one of the most active music ensembles of its generation. Trio Animae focuses primarily on the newest repertoire created by the current generation of composers, and often presents world and national premieres.
