Anthony de Mare - Liaisons II - All Things Bright & Beautiful, Re-imagining Sondheim from the Piano - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Pianist extraordinaire Anthony de Mare's landmark commissioning project, Liaisons Re-Imagining Sondheim from the Piano, reaches Volume II with a diverse range of 14 tracks by a roll call of contemporary composers from the worlds of classical, jazz, film, indie, pop and musical theatre, including Jon Batiste, Stephen Hough, Meredith Monk, Max Richter, Conrad Tao, with the soloist himself contributing the title track InchAll Things Bright and BeautifulInch. Launched in 2015 on ECM Records with an acclaimed three-volume set - Incha revelation. de Mare's playing superb throughout, a combination of lyrical reflection and extroverted pyrotechnicsInch (San Francisco Chronicle) - Liaisons II extends the ambitious endeavour that brings together the world's leading composers to re-imagine the legendary musical theatre composer's songs for solo piano. Sondheim, the ever-eloquent wordsmith, proclaimed he was InchthrilledInch with the music InchI think the new pieces are terrific,' he wrote in October of 2021, simultaneously praising de Mare InchI also like how they show off your piano-playing chops. Inch Timed to coincide with the 95th anniversary of Sondheim's birth, Liaisons II All Things Bright and Beautiful stands as a celebration of the life and enduring legacy of the exceptional musical theatre giant.