Maestro 030: Bridge Records 30th Anniversary

Bridge Records was founded in 1981 by the classical guitarist David Starobin, and his wife, the violinist, Becky Starobin. The company celebrates its 30th anniversary with a catalog of more than 400 CD and DVDs, as well as a music publishing arm and an artist management division. Both of the Starobin's children, Robert Starobin and Allegra Starobin, work for the company, as well as a staff of engineers, designers and allied personnel.

Bridge now issues between 35 to 40 discs per year, across a broad spectrum of classical music, contemporary music and jazz. The Washington Post wrote that "Bridge is a company with a highly selectiveand consistently excellent catalog". It is this selectivity that has led to 25 Grammy nominations and numerous awards from the international critical press.


New Orford String Quartet
"String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D. 887, Op. 161: I. Allegro molto moderato" (mp3)
from "New Orford String Quartet performs Schubert and Beethoven"
(Bridge Records, Inc.)

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The New Orford Quartet is a brilliant all-star group from Canada. The quartet includes the concertmasters of the Montreal and Toronto Symphonies. This is the debut recording of the New Orford- a recording which has been receiving rave reviews in the critical press.


Susanna Phillips, Myra Huang
"Poemes Pour Mi: VII. Les Deux guerriers" (mp3)
from "Susanna Phillips: Paysages"
(Bridge Records, Inc.)

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Susanna Phillips is a spectacular young mezzo-soprano. Ms. Phillips is the winner of the Metropolitan Opera's 2010 Beverly Sills Award. Her solo debut recording on Bridge is called Paysages (Landscapes) and includes French songs by Messiaen, Debussy and Fauré. Here we listen to a track from Olivier Messiaen's magical song cycle Poemes pour Mi.


The Budapest String Quartet
"String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 18, No. 3: IV. Presto" (mp3)
from "Beethoven: The Early Quartets"
(Bridge Records, Inc.)

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One of the special parts of the Bridge catalog is the company's historical recordings, many released by Bridge for the first time ever. These include 25 volumes of concerts played at the Library of Congress, between 1940 and the present day. Famous names on the Bridge series include George Szell, Leopold Stowkowski, Leontyne Price, Samuel Barber and the Budapest String Quartet. Here the Budapest String Quartet performs from a 1944 concert.


Garrick Ohlsson
"Sonata in B Minor, S. 178: IV. Allegro energico" (mp3)
from "Garrick Ohlsson: Liszt Recital"
(Bridge Records, Inc.)

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Bridge has a long history of recording many of today's leading soloists. Among pianists in the Bridge catalog you'll find names like Rudolf Serkin, Richard Goode, Peter Serkin and Garrick Ohlsson. Here we listen to Garrick Ohlsson's recent Liszt recording, which celebrates the 200th anniversary of Liszt's birth.


BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew David
"Concerto In Pieces - Purcell Variations: I. Theme and Variation I, Vivace Maestoso" (mp3)
from "Concertos of Melinda Wagner and Poul Ruders"
(Bridge Records, Inc.)

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BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew David
"Concerto In Pieces - Purcell Variations: II. Variation II, Vivace Scherzando" (mp3)
from "Concertos of Melinda Wagner and Poul Ruders"
(Bridge Records, Inc.)

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Among the strengths of the Bridge catalog is a strong commitment to finding the leading composers of our own time, and recording large portions of their catalog. The Danish composer Poul Ruders has become known for his operas and orchestral music, much of which has been recorded on Bridge. Here we listen to his "Concerto in Pieces", played by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.


Joseph Alessi, Susan Narucki, George Crumb, Paul Cesarczyk, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
"Star-Child: IV. Musica Apocalyptica" (mp3)
from "George Crumb Edition, Vol. 3"
(Bridge Records, Inc.)

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The composer George Crumb celebrated his 80th birthday last year. Bridge has a particularly close relationship with Crumb, and is involved in recording the great American composer's complete output. Here we listen to the "Dies Irae" from Crumb's massive orchestral work, "Star-Child." This recording was a Grammy winner!


Clara Rockmore, Nadia Reisenberg
"Requiebros" (mp3)
from "Clara Rockmore's Lost Theremin Album"
(Bridge Records, Inc.)

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Eclectic titles are also a part of the Bridge catalog, and what could be more eclectic than a recording of classical masterpieces on the Theremin! Here we listen to the superb performer Clara Rockmore with an eerily beautiful rendition of Requiebros by Gaspar Cassado, accompanied by pianist Nadia Reisenberg.