Robin Kern Reflections

Kevin Kern was a child prodigy playing the piano at the astounding age of eighteen months. He began studying with a private tutor at the age of four. Founding his own group, the Well Tempered Clavichord at age fourteen they made their professional debut. Kevin attended the University Of Michigan's School Of Music and studied with renowned pianist Mischa Kottler.
Kevin received a Master's Degree in Performance and a Bachelor of Music Degree from the New England Conservatory Of Music. After leaving school he played the local scene of Boston for ten years. In 1990, Kevin moved to San Francisco and began playing live gigs…

In spite of his numerous academic appointments Robin Orr steadily produced a sizeable output including three operas, three symphonies and a good deal of vocal and instrumental music. It all undoubtedly deserves to be better known though it really never lacked for performances. Very little of Orr's music has been available on records. His Symphony in One Movement (actually his first symphony) was recorded many years ago (EMI ASD 2279 - nla). This comparative neglect makes the present release the more welcome in that it not only pays a well-deserved tribute to the composer on his ninetieth birthday but also provides an excellent introduction to his varied output.

Yes, Olga Kern does appear in her photographs to be quite beautiful, glamorously, gorgeously, gloriously beautiful. Try not to hold that against her because, under all her appearance of beauty, Kern is actually a great musician and the proof is in her disc of transcriptions and variations by Rachmaninov. Kern's physical beauty is matched and surpassed by her tone, her technique, and, best of all, her interpretations. Her tone is clear, deep, rich, strong, and warm. Her technique is effortless, flawless, and just about beyond belief. And her interpretations are even better.

Two classic piano quintets from two centuries — Brahms and Shostakovich — are given superb renditions by acclaimed pianist Olga Kern and the Dalí Quartet.

With this recording Argentine-Swiss cellist Sol Gabetta completes her pair of Shostakovich's cello concertos, recorded in reverse order. Perhaps she has simply been aware of Shostakovich's still growing popularity, or perhaps she felt it was a unique challenge to apply her somewhat impetuous style to Shostakovich, who could certainly be called sober and perhaps even dour.