OUT NOW | Cellist Brinton Averil Smith's New CD: 'Exiles in Paradise' [LISTEN]

Naxos Records has announced the release of American cellist Brinton Averil Smith's new album: 'Exiles in Paradise'

Naxos Records has announced the release of American cellist Brinton Averil Smith's new album: 'Exiles in Paradise'.

Recorded with pianist Evelyn Chen, the disc features a selection of cello works and arrangements by Hollywood composers - including Godowsky's 'Triakontameron', Rachmaninov's 'Morceaux de Fantaisie', Stravinsky's 'The Firebird', Schoenberg's 'Das Buch der Hängenden Gärten', Achron's 'Stimmungen', Gruenberg's 'Jazzettes', Toch's 'Three Impromptus for Cello', Castelnuovo-Tedesco's 'Nottambuli', Rozsa's 'Toccata capricciosa' Korngold's 'Much Ado About Nothing', Waxman's 'Carmen Fantasy' - and Gershwin's 'It Ain't Necessarily So'.

''From my childhood love for Korngold’s violin concerto through my recent revival of  Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s cello concerto, I’ve always been fascinated by the depth of talent and the variety of creative visions that flourished during the unheralded 'Hollywood Renaissance' of the mid-20th century ..." Brinton has told The Violin Channel.

"An influx of refugees, fleeing war and persecution in Europe, settled within a few square miles near Hollywood and formed one of the most prolific communities of artistic talent in history - altering the course of American culture ..." he has said.

"Our hope is to spark an interest in these amazing and neglected composers, and to broaden both the repertory and the technical boundaries of the cello with transcriptions from the violin repertoire like Waxman's 'Carmen Fantasie' ... this CD has been a labor of love, and our hope is to inspire people to share this passion.''

Exiles in Paradise

Brinton Averil Smith, Cello

Evelyn Chen, Piano

Label: Naxos

Release Date: March 13, 2020