Stephen Michael Gryč - Virtuosity (Various Artists)

Information

Composer: Stephen Michael Gryč

• Fanfare for a Noble Rebel
• Harmonia Mundi
• Evensong
• Passaggi

Leonid Sigal, violin

Huw Morgan, trumpet

Joseph Alessi, trombone

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Miran Vaupotić, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Navona

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Stephen Gryč’s music occupies a unique space, combining a firmly tonal foundation and a Prokofiev-esque neoclassicism with a deeply familiar, archetypal resonance that avoids conventional conservatism. On VIRTUOSITY, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, alongside soloists Huw Morgan, Leonid Sigal, and Joseph Alessi, explores the essence of this distinctive artistic voice. Featuring pieces specifically tailored for Sigal and Alessi, the album highlights the core of Gryč’s compositional strength: a profound understanding of individual instruments and performers, masterfully integrated with and elevated by the full power of the orchestral ensemble.

Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1949, Stephen Michael Gryč holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan, where he studied under Pulitzer laureates Leslie Bassett and William Bolcom. Professor Emeritus at the Hartt School, Gryč is internationally recognized for his imaginative instrumental color and technical expertise, earning major awards like the ASCAP Rudolf Nissim Prize. His extensive catalog spans diverse western ensembles and is performed globally, published by major houses, and featured on labels including Naxos and Albany. World-renowned soloists and ensembles regularly commission and perform his works in international festivals and competitions.

Acclaimed as "dynamic and knowledgeable" by the Buenos Aires Herald, Croatian conductor Miran Vaupotić enjoys an active international career leading world-class ensembles like the London Symphony, Royal Scottish National, and Russian National Orchestras. He performs regularly in renowned venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, the Wiener Musikverein, and the Berliner Philharmonie. A dedicated champion of contemporary music, Vaupotić has premiered works by composers such as Carlos Franzetti, Roberto Di Marino, Primous Fountain, and Dan Brown. The Global Music Awards Gold Medalist and Aram Khachaturian Competition winner currently serves as Chief Conductor of both the Croatian Chamber Orchestra and the South Czech Philharmonic.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz