Webern, Wolpe & Feldman

Released in 2013 by Bridge Records, this collection serves as a focused exploration of twentieth-century avant-garde piano music. The album features pianist Aleck Karis performing works by Anton Webern, Stefan Wolpe, and Morton Feldman, effectively bridging the gap between the structured rigor of the Second Viennese School and the nuanced, expansive minimalism associated with the New York School. The recording was produced as part of Bridge Records' ongoing commitment to documenting complex modern classical repertoire, providing a scholarly and technical window into the evolution of piano composition throughout the century.

The album's design and curation prioritize transparency and formal clarity, reflecting the meticulous nature of the compositions selected. Aleck Karis, a specialist in contemporary music, approaches these pieces with a focus on color and architectural precision, aiming to highlight the stark differences and surprising aesthetic overlaps between Webern’s aphoristic miniatures and Feldman’s duration-focused structures. Upon its release, the recording was well-received within specialized music circles for its intellectual depth and the technical demand required to navigate the disparate stylistic demands of the three composers.