Various Composers - New Music for Two Voices (Susan Narucki; Kirsten Ashley Wiest)

Information

• Rozalie Hirs - come sempre
• Alba Potes - TRINOS
• Kaija Saariaho - From the Grammar of Dreams
• Jeffrey Holmes - NauðaR Níu
• Pascal Dusapin - Two Walking
• Marti Epstein - Melisande

Susan Narucki, soprano

Kirsten Ashley Wiest, coloratura soprano

Date: 2026

Label: New Focus Recordings

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Sopranos Susan Narucki and Kirsten Ashley Wiest collaborate on an illuminating album of contemporary vocal duets, highlighting the expressive possibilities and vulnerability of two voices. Featuring works by Kaija Saariaho, Marti Epstein, Alba Potes, Jeffrey Holmes, Rozalie Hirs, and Pascal Dusapin, the recording explores diverse modern techniques and aesthetics. From Saariaho’s dramatic text settings and Holmes’s microtonal Runic incantations to Epstein’s meditative Melisande, the duo navigates extended vocal methods, complex interplay, and subtle harmonies with exceptional artistry. By turning stripped-back vocal instrumentation into a core strength, Narucki and Wiest deliver a deeply evocative anthology of contemporary chamber music.

Acclaimed American soprano Susan Narucki is a dedicated champion of contemporary classical music, renowned for her transformative collaborations with leading composers and top-tier ensembles like the Cleveland Orchestra and ASKO/Schoenberg Ensemble. Her extensive discography includes three GRAMMY Award nominations for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album, most recently in 2026 for Kurtág's Kafka Fragments. A Distinguished Professor of Music at UC San Diego, Narucki also produces impactful chamber operas addressing critical social issues, including Cuatro Corridos and Inheritance. Recognized with prestigious grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and Creative Capital, she remains a powerful force in modern vocal performance and social advocacy.

Award-winning coloratura soprano Kirsten Ashley Wiest is celebrated for her extraordinary virtuosity, expansive range, and dedication to contemporary classical music. Having premiered over 100 new works across opera, chamber music, and art song, she actively advances the art form through close collaborations with innovative composers. Wiest has performed with premier ensembles such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, PARTCH, and wild Up, while her versatile voice appears on prominent labels including Sony Classical and in major film soundtracks like The Conjuring series. Holding a DMA from UC San Diego, she balances an international performance career with university-level teaching and nonprofit board leadership.