American Grace: Piano music from Steven Mackey & John Adams Orli Shaham

• John Adams (b. 1947): Hallelujah Junction:
• 1 Hallelujah Junction: I. Movement 1 07:25
• 2 Hallelujah Junction: II. Movement 2 02:34
• 3 Hallelujah Junction: III. Movement 3 06:11
• Steven Mackey (b. 1956): Stumble to Grace:
• 4 Stumble to Grace: I. Stage 1 05:58
• 5 Stumble to Grace: II. Stage 2 05:02
• 6 Stumble to Grace: III. Stage 3 04:36
• 7 Stumble to Grace: IV. Stage 4 04:10
• 8 Stumble to Grace: V. Stage 5 06:51
• Steven Mackey: Sneaky March (World première recordings):
• 9 Sneaky March 01:42
• John Adams: China Gates:
• 10 China Gates 04:50
• Total Runtime 49:19

Info for American Grace: Piano music from Steven Mackey & John Adams

American Grace features John Adams' Hallelujah Junction as well as the world premiere recording of Steven Mackey's piano concerto Stumble to Grace recorded with the Los Angeles Philharmonic with Orli Shaham's husband conductor David Robertson at the helm.

It has long been a dream of Ms. Shaham’s to make a statement with American piano music. Her new release features the world premiere recording of Steven Mackey's piano concerto, Stumble to Grace - written expressly for her - performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Also on the recording, seminal works for solo and duo piano by John Adams.

The idea to commission Stumble to Grace originated with Orli Shaham and her husband, the conductor David Robertson. According to Ms. Shaham, “David had performed several of Steve’s works, and I had heard Beautiful Passing, his violin concerto, and it was just gorgeous. I thought, I’d love to play something by him.”

John Adams' China Gates is, for Orli Shaham, the “opening gambit of contemporary American piano music.” Written in 1977, it is among Adams’s earliest works. Ms. Shaham says that his piece for two pianos, Hallelujah Junction (1996). is “a work I can never get enough of,” and it remains one of Adams’ most popular compositions. In this recording, Jon Kimura Parker joins Ms. Shaham at the second keyboard. Also joining Orli Shaham on this recording is her husband David Robertson, one of today’s most sought-after conductors, revered for his programming and dynamic stage presence.

„Stumble to Grace is a real tour de force for Shaham, who manages to make it all seem deceptively simple.“ (St. Louis Post–Dispatch)

Orli Shaham, piano
Jon Kimura Parker, piano
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
David Robertson, conductor

Orli Shaham
A consummate musician recognized for her grace and vitality, Orli Shaham has established an impressive international reputation as one of today’s most gifted pianists. Hailed by critics on four continents, Ms. Shaham is in demand for her prodigious skills and admired for her interpretations of both standard and modern repertoire. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has praised her “wit, passion, delicacy, and humor”; and The Guardian has called Ms. Shaham’s playing “perfection.”

Orli Shaham’s performance schedule brings her to concert halls from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House and most of the major venues in between, for recitals, chamber music, and concerti. Ms. Shaham has performed with nearly every major American orchestra, as well as many in Europe, Asia, and Australia. A frequent guest at summer festivals, her appearances include Tanglewood, Ravinia, Verbier, Mostly Mozart, and Aspen. Devoted to the intimate genre of chamber music, Ms. Shaham serves as curator and performer in Pacific Symphony’s chamber music series in Costa Mesa, California.

In addition to American Grace, Ms. Shaham is in the midst of a multi-volume recording project centering around the late works of Johannes Brahms. The recordings feature compositions by Brahms and related music from the classical canon, alongside new works commissioned by Ms. Shaham. Her wide variety of repertoire is reflected in her large discography, including Nigunim: Hebrew Melodies (CC10) with her brother, the violinist Gil Shaham, which includes the world premiere of a work by Avner Dorman, commissioned by Orli and Gil Shaham; Saint- Saens’ Carnival of the Animals with the pianist Jon Kimura Parker and the San Diego Symphony; and a CD of chamber music, including the Brahms Horn Trio featuring Richard King. Orli and Gil Shaham have collaborated on several other recordings including Dvoˇrák for Two, The Prokofiev Album (CC02), and Mozart in Paris (CC01).

Driven by a passion to bring classical music to new audiences, Orli Shaham maintains an active parallel career as a respected broadcaster, music writer, and lecturer. On radio, she has hosted the nationally-broadcast Dial-a-Musician and America’s Music Festivals series, and served as artist in residence on National Public Radio’s Performance Today.

Inspired by her enthusiasm for introducing young children to the pleasures of music, Orli Shaham created Baby Got Bach, a series of interactive classical concerts for young children which has a devoted following in New York, St. Louis and other locations. As part of the Baby Got Bach program, she continually adds to the repertoire by commissioning notable composers to write music for pianist with audience participation.

Booklet for American Grace: Piano music from Steven Mackey & John Adams