CDs & Digital Singles
ABOUT THE ALBUM
In a refreshing escape from the ordinary, beloved holiday classics are transformed into world-class showpieces for concert piano. Engineered by four-time Grammy winner Brad Michel and recorded at iconic Boston Symphony Hall, this album presents a truly exceptional listening experience for those seeking for a unique and high-caliber performance.
“Remarkable high-wire acrobatics... It's a disc guaranteed to lift the spirits.”
— Jeremy Nicholas, Gramophone
“A masterful technique and a palpable sense of joy.”
— Clive Paget, Limelight
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“Simply magical... It is a gift in its own right.”
— Colin Clarke, Fanfare
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"Sets a higher standard for Christmas music."
— Amazon
“Christmas never sounded so good; it never sounded so effortless, so energetic, and so in sync with the rush and hover of one-billion snowflakes.”
- Limelight's Top 3 Holiday Albums (2024)
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“This release marks a new legacy... Rasa Vitkauskaite plays in a sensitive, virtuoso style... Her performance of the Capriccio brilliant is marvelous... ”
— Hana Gubenko, Fanfare
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"Rasa Vitkauskaite, who has been lavishly praised for her sophisticated and virtuosic playing by a number of critics, myself included, turns in brilliant performances in the Double Concerto and the Capriccio Brilliant."
— Peter Burwasser, Fanfare
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"Vitkauskaite and Kaler play together with such seamless syncopation that it is breathtaking. Vitkauskaite demonstrates not only her incredibly detailed and refined dexterity at the fingerboard, but her command of the piece at the helm of the orchestra... An incredible tribute to Mendelssohn from start to finish."
— Jacqueline Kharouf, Fanfare
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“A brilliant disc, life-enhancing and full of joie de vivre, all cased in a fine recording.”
— Colin Clarke, Fanfare
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"The renditions of these challenging pieces are striking for their arresting synchronicity, especially impressive given the flexibility and improvisational character Vitkauskaite and Cohler bring to the performances. "
— Ken Meltzer, Fanfare
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"…the extremely musical playing of Jonathan Cohler and Rasa Vitkauskaite, makes for a very engrossing hour... excellent program notes (credited to both performers)... it would be hard to imagine [a recording of the Guastavino Sonata] more lovely..."
— Henry Fogel, Fanfare
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“She plays the solo part as boldly as Rudolf Serkin, and he conducts with more dramatic force than George Szell...”
— Huntley Dent, Fanfare
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"...the highest degrees of both technical finish and interpretive integrity..."
— Jerry Dubbins, Fanfare
"Whether it is the poetic opening of Mozart’s concerto or the relentless dancing bounce in the concluding movement of the Beethoven, Vitkauskaite has a strong presence and willful execution..."
The accompanying 28-page booklet, authored by Rasa, delves deeply into the inspiration and context behind the recorded works, providing a truly enriching listening experience.
“…a musician with a keen ear for colour and structure… vital glowing performances… illuminating and nuanced.”
— Donald Rosenberg, Gramophone
“This is an extremely satisfying and thrillingly executed programme..."
— Steve Arloff, MusicWeb International
"...scintillating pianism and a kaleidoscope of colors… a Beethoven interpreter of penetrating insight."
— Jerry Dubbins, Fanfare
A highlight of this CD is the 24-page booklet, featuring an in-depth article by renowned biographer and scholar Jan Swafford on Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 101, alongside insightful notes on the other works by Rasa Vitkauskaite.
Digital Single Available for Download and Streaming
“...a spirited and aristocratic jeu d'esprit carried off with style.”
— Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International
New Digital Single Release Now Available for Download and Streaming
“...a spirited and aristocratic jeu d'esprit carried off with style.”
— Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International
