Steve Dobrogosz Website

Update June

Hartelijke groeten and an immeasurable dank u very wel to Dutch conductor Anne Sollie and the Opus group, the choir!, the NASCA orchestra, Barbara, Cindy, Rein and Martijn, and Jos at Aliud records, for the best world premier of My Rose possible (and special thanks to Egbert : ). It was a career highlight for me, and everyone's enthusiasm was deeply appreciated. Two hours of Shakespeare's love-sonnets sung... and among the most positive audience responses I've experienced.

Some performances from the My Rose premier are now up at YouTube:

A Summer's Day
Being Your Slave
Like To The Lark
Elder
Sweet Love
My Home
Lips To Kiss
My Speaking Breast
Live Twice

now at iTunes

from the first CD review:
"a beautiful and richly rewarding piece of contemporary music"

Remarkably few composers have used Shakespeare's Sonnets as texts, probably being intimidated by their historical importance and the celebrated quality of their poetry... Steve Dobrogosz's new work is by far the most ambitious in the field... As do many Shakespeare experts, Dobrogosz regards the sonnets as universal affirmations of human love... Dobrogosz refers to 'My Rose' as "A Shakespeare Oratorio", using the term in its secular form (after Schumann) as a lengthy work for orchestra and chorus with solo voices, although there is no recitative as such. A medium-sized chamber orchestra, with brass, tympani and piano was engaged by Sollie and the Netherlands Project, together with the Project Opus Choir of around 50 mixed voices and soloists Barbara van Lint (soprano), Cindy Oudshoorn (alto), Rein Kolpa (tenor) and Martijn Sanders (bass). The musical style of the Oratorio is contemporary fusion; Dobrogosz seamlessly moves between his basic neo-Romanticism and other styles, including Broadway musical theatre, Jazz, Blues, Negro Spiritual and even American Folk - in the shape of a Hoe-Down. Its most striking features are the sheer beauty and fecundity of melody, the sensitivity and subtlety of his word-painting (which captures the mood and underlying meaning of Shakespeare's verses), and provision of substantial lyrical, atmospheric instrumental preludes and postludes which attach to each vocal item. Of course, there is music already embedded in the rich Elizabethan language of the Sonnets, which Dobrogosz clearly relishes, being inspired by this as much as the content; modernising but never compromising the texts.

Throughout, conductor Anne Sollie keeps the tempi flowing but flexible, especially in the rhythmic chant-like choral settings, and has superb control over the precision choral interplay of the hoe-down (Disc 2. 'Lips to Kiss', Sonnet 128). Several of the Sonnets are suitably set as Blues, and here Sollie flexibly encourages the artistry of his instrumental soloists and excellent vocal soloists. Jos Boerland's full DSD recording is up to his usual high standard; transparent with a natural perspective and atmospheric surround channels. The soloists are not spotlighted, and every detail of Steve Dobrogosz's highly inventive score comes across, as does the artistry and enthusiasm of all the performers. Their level of commitment is a tribute to the pleasure it must be to sing and play this new score, which is undoubtedly a beautiful and richly rewarding piece of contemporary music. I could hardly imagine that a more devoted or skilful presentation would be possible.

'My Rose' is music which should be accessible to a wide range of music lovers. Hopefully, Shakespeare lovers will also find rewards in the respect and sincere emotional response of Dobrogosz to the Master's poetry. A set which lingers long in the memory and which gives much pleasure at every hearing. - Copyright © 2009 John Miller and SA-CD.net

__________________________________

Koiuta, five duets sung in Japanese, including Akikazeni (here sung by choir) has just been published:

Work is nearly done on the double-CD set of new piano music Stream, which will be released directly to iTunes later in the summer.

Both the dynamic duo's grammis-nominated CDs, Rivertime and It's Always You, are now at iTunes worldwide
See Anna's website for upcoming tour dates. And don't miss her great solo work.

My solopiano recording of Lennon-McCartney songs, Golden Slumbers, is set for release in November on the Norwegian Curling Legs label.

My son Jonathan is making quite a name for himself in the smooth-jazz scene. Check out his latest CD VIP.

Visit the updated recordings page.

Work has begun on a commission from Japan for women's choir.

Sections of The Great Plains, Requiem and Lilacs now up at YouTube.

Orders are up for the "Gospels" concert. Glad to see more choirs, from USA to Germany, finally discovering this - it's much fun to perform.

I've been reading about a condition called "synesthesia" which, in my case and in many musicians, is the linkage of sound and color in the brain, and thought I'd make a chart of the colors I've always "seen" together with the major and minor keys.

The Swedish choir Non Silentium, led by Urban Westerlund, has recorded a beautiful version of Te Deum on their new CD. Link here.

Mass has now been performed in over 30 countries.

Masahiro Izaki conducts Mass in Szolnok, Hungary

Mass performed in Jakarta, Indonesia


		STEVE DOBROGOSZ very official homepage Sand Castle Music Inc. dobro@algonet.se
			tracks of the month The duets from My Rose: Being Your Slave My Home
	Sand Castle Score Shop look-listen-order Dobrogosz scores (click to enter) SITE PAGES Sand Castle Score Shop Bio/Reviews Steve Dobrogosz/Anna Christoffersson Dobrogosz Recordings MP3 Page Selected works including My Rose, Mass, Requiem Te Deum, Zakuro Tokyo performance of Mass Play-along flute books DOBROGOSZ AT YOUTUBE
	Update June Hartelijke groeten and an immeasurable dank u very wel to Dutch conductor Anne Sollie and the Opus group, the choir!, the NASCA orchestra, Barbara, Cindy, Rein and Martijn, and Jos at Aliud records, for the best world premier of My Rose possible (and special thanks to Egbert : ). It was a career highlight for me, and everyone's enthusiasm was deeply appreciated. Two hours of Shakespeare's love-sonnets sung... and among the most positive audience responses I've experienced. Some performances from the My Rose premier are now up at YouTube: A Summer's Day Being Your Slave Like To The Lark Elder Sweet Love My Home Lips To Kiss My Speaking Breast Live Twice now at iTunes from the first CD review: "a beautiful and richly rewarding piece of contemporary music" Remarkably few composers have used Shakespeare's Sonnets as texts, probably being intimidated by their historical importance and the celebrated quality of their poetry... Steve Dobrogosz's new work is by far the most ambitious in the field... As do many Shakespeare experts, Dobrogosz regards the sonnets as universal affirmations of human love... Dobrogosz refers to 'My Rose' as "A Shakespeare Oratorio", using the term in its secular form (after Schumann) as a lengthy work for orchestra and chorus with solo voices, although there is no recitative as such. A medium-sized chamber orchestra, with brass, tympani and piano was engaged by Sollie and the Netherlands Project, together with the Project Opus Choir of around 50 mixed voices and soloists Barbara van Lint (soprano), Cindy Oudshoorn (alto), Rein Kolpa (tenor) and Martijn Sanders (bass). The musical style of the Oratorio is contemporary fusion; Dobrogosz seamlessly moves between his basic neo-Romanticism and other styles, including Broadway musical theatre, Jazz, Blues, Negro Spiritual and even American Folk - in the shape of a Hoe-Down. Its most striking features are the sheer beauty and fecundity of melody, the sensitivity and subtlety of his word-painting (which captures the mood and underlying meaning of Shakespeare's verses), and provision of substantial lyrical, atmospheric instrumental preludes and postludes which attach to each vocal item. Of course, there is music already embedded in the rich Elizabethan language of the Sonnets, which Dobrogosz clearly relishes, being inspired by this as much as the content; modernising but never compromising the texts. Throughout, conductor Anne Sollie keeps the tempi flowing but flexible, especially in the rhythmic chant-like choral settings, and has superb control over the precision choral interplay of the hoe-down (Disc 2. 'Lips to Kiss', Sonnet 128). Several of the Sonnets are suitably set as Blues, and here Sollie flexibly encourages the artistry of his instrumental soloists and excellent vocal soloists. Jos Boerland's full DSD recording is up to his usual high standard; transparent with a natural perspective and atmospheric surround channels. The soloists are not spotlighted, and every detail of Steve Dobrogosz's highly inventive score comes across, as does the artistry and enthusiasm of all the performers. Their level of commitment is a tribute to the pleasure it must be to sing and play this new score, which is undoubtedly a beautiful and richly rewarding piece of contemporary music. I could hardly imagine that a more devoted or skilful presentation would be possible. 'My Rose' is music which should be accessible to a wide range of music lovers. Hopefully, Shakespeare lovers will also find rewards in the respect and sincere emotional response of Dobrogosz to the Master's poetry. A set which lingers long in the memory and which gives much pleasure at every hearing. - Copyright © 2009 John Miller and SA-CD.net __________________________________ Koiuta, five duets sung in Japanese, including Akikazeni (here sung by choir) has just been published: Work is nearly done on the double-CD set of new piano music Stream, which will be released directly to iTunes later in the summer. Both the dynamic duo's grammis-nominated CDs, Rivertime and It's Always You, are now at iTunes worldwide See Anna's website for upcoming tour dates. And don't miss her great solo work. My solopiano recording of Lennon-McCartney songs, Golden Slumbers, is set for release in November on the Norwegian Curling Legs label. My son Jonathan is making quite a name for himself in the smooth-jazz scene. Check out his latest CD VIP. Visit the updated recordings page. Work has begun on a commission from Japan for women's choir. Sections of The Great Plains, Requiem and Lilacs now up at YouTube. Orders are up for the "Gospels" concert. Glad to see more choirs, from USA to Germany, finally discovering this - it's much fun to perform. I've been reading about a condition called "synesthesia" which, in my case and in many musicians, is the linkage of sound and color in the brain, and thought I'd make a chart of the colors I've always "seen" together with the major and minor keys. The Swedish choir Non Silentium, led by Urban Westerlund, has recorded a beautiful version of Te Deum on their new CD. Link here. Mass has now been performed in over 30 countries. Masahiro Izaki conducts Mass in Szolnok, Hungary Mass performed in Jakarta, Indonesia At the premier of Requiem in Stockholm
Steve Dobrogosz Website © 2009 Sand Castle Music, Inc. dobrogosz.com