Americans

Vivid testimony to the multifaceted partnership of James Gaffigan and the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, their latest release invites us to explore the conductor's American roots, from the most mischievous (Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story) to the spiritual (Charles Ives' Symphony No.3, based on his works for solo organ). With dramatically potent dissonances, Ruth Crawford's Andante for strings casts a spell in the form of a hypnotic and restless nocturne, while Samuel Barber's boldly athletic Toccata for organ and orchestra reveals a rarely heard aspect of this well-known master. An electrifying performance!