Pulitzer Prize- and three-time Grammy award-winning composer, Jennifer Higdon, continues to write what the Chicago Sun-Times describes as music ‘both modern and timeless’. Duo Duel for two pitched percussion instruments and orchestra is a double concerto of scintillating, high-speed virtuosity: ‘don’t blink – you might miss something!’ she advises the listener. Concerto for Orchestra demands the utmost in technical accomplishment from all members of the orchestra. The first movement was written last to give a clearer picture of what was needed to start a work that is both an orchestral celebration and a true virtuoso tour-de-force.

Jennifer Higdon has a strong presence on Naxos. Her Viola Concerto and Oboe Concerto coupled with All Things Majestic can be heard on 8559823: ‘Jennifer Higdon is one of the most consistently important composers creating music today and the Nashville Symphony’s brilliant performances do full justice to works that include her Viola and Oboe Concertos’ (Fanfare).

The Viola Concerto on the above album was one of the works for which she won the Grammy Award (the others were for the Percussion Concerto and Harp Concerto).

Robert Spano guest conducts worldwide – the Cleveland, Philadelphia and Minnesota orchestras, the New York and Los Angeles philharmonics, and the San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and New World symphonies. Internationally, he has led the Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, the BBC Symphony and Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, among others.